Timing Light Q

[pmpski_1]

OK, this can't be that hard -

I went to set my timing today and the light wouldn't fire. The light is a 10 dollar cheapie from Harbor Freight and has been banged up since I used it so I decided to head off to Sears to get a new light. Back in the garage, the new light won't fire either.

I tried a couple different wires, and I checked the voltage on the timing light clamps while the engine was running - 14.9. I even tried to use both lights on another car. Neither light would fire. I know the HF one worked in the past cause I used it for timing my motorcycle.

What am I missing? I find it hard to believe that a light that worked before and a brand new light are both broken.

If it matters, I just upgraded to HEI and a rebuilt QJet. Truck runs, but it's a bit rough.

Thanks

[piecesparts]

Silly question: Did you connect ALL of the wires that needed to be and to the right places? My Sears light has a 12 volt power and ground wire that needs to be connected and then the High Voltage pickup from the plug wire.


If nothing else maybe it's batteries are dead. LOL

[cdowns]

did you hook the wire up to #1sparkplug wire

[pmpski_1]

I put the red clip on the + battery terminal and the black on the same place where the neg battery terminal is grounded to - exhaust manifold. Then put the spark plug wire in the notch on the pickup. (I tried a couple other grounds too, just to be sure).

Same thing with the other car I tried it on.

Maybe I do have 2 bad lights? I don't think there's any trick to this I hope I'm just over looking something.

Also - I thought that I may have a bad ground, so I took the multimeter and checked the voltage on the timing light clips while the engine was running. It measured 14.9. Would it show any voltage if it was a bad ground?

[Longhorn Man]

try hooking it directly to the battery. The only reason you'd have to hook to the engine would be if you are giving it a jump start.
The clamp may not have enough bite to dig through the rust or paint on the manifold.

[chevy one]

If it is an inductive type pick-up that clips over the wire, most have an arrow or says toward spark plug. If this is facing the other driection the light won't fire.

[pmpski_1]

hm, tried direct to battery and clipping both ways on the wires. I can't believe that I got a bad gun right off the shelf but there's only one thing left to try. Off to Sears to replace it.

The only thing that bugs me is that the other gun won't work either. I'm gonna test it on my motorcycle since I know it worked there in the past, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow. Weak battery is on the charger now.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll see if a different gun solves the problem.

[badchev69]

agree with Chevy one... If the clamp is backwards it will not fire. Some clamps dont even have the arrow.. try that

[pmpski_1]

Originally Posted by badchev69

agree with Chevy one... If the clamp is backwards it will not fire. Some clamps dont even have the arrow.. try that

Yep. No arrow, but tried it both ways. Seriously this can't be that hard. It must be bad That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

[chevy one]

Sounds like my luck; hope the new- new light will fix your problem.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

Did you try it on another plug wire!!! Just in case the #1 wire is bad.

[pmpski_1]

Got another light from Sears last night. Hooked it up this AM and it works just fine.

Unfortunately, when I was exchanging the bad one I saw the sales guy print out a "used" sticker to slap on the box. It's gonna go straight to the clearance section for some other poor sap to buy. Glad I didn't buy that leaf blower from the clearance section yesterday...

Thanks for the help folks!