Slant six has no spark!

[NateP]

My slant six suddenly died and wont start. Ive checked the fuel delivery. It is good. I have 12 v at the coil key on & while cranking. The pickup coil tested good. I swapped out the ignition coil for a known good one. Still no spark. Could this vacuum switch looking thing on my air cleaner have something to do with it?

 

[hotrod45]

What year slant six? Electronic ignition?

 

[NateP]

1982 looks like electronic ignition. It has two pickup coils. But im not seeing the ballast resistor nor the control module. Static tested both. It appears 1 is good and 1 is bad. I have to go find one. I have this electric/vacuum thing on the air cleaner. Have continuity from one of the plugs in it going to each pickup coil. Can this be the root of my problem?

 

[hotrod45]

I'd be more help if it weren't electronic ignition. I'm not sure what the device on the air cleaner is. If you have doubts about it, perhaps put a jumper across it to take it out of the loop? My best guess on what it is: a temp sensor operating the timing advance, probably when cold. What do the spark plugs look like?

 

[Loggato]

My first guess was ballast resistor.. My duster has a slant, and the ballast resistor even has a chunk broken off of it.. still works!

But I have heard that it is a common fault problem.

 

[Scottly]

The gizmo on the air cleaner is part of the lean burn system. It controls the crappy electronic needles that were on the carbs of those models. You most likely have an ignition pickup issue.