Originally Posted by
bee utey
The voltage of the (-) post of the ignition coil will only be different to the (+) post when the electronic ignition is actually working. A voltage drop can be seen with a simple 12V test lamp when the engine is turning, the globe will flicker. The (-) post on an original points distributor will show a zero voltage when the points are closed but you will not see this with the electronic distributor fitted.
To properly test the distributor pickup coil inside the distributor, remove the amplifier and test the resistance of the pickup via the terminals behind the amplifier. If the pickup is aligned with the point of the rotor, moving the shaft quickly will produce small voltages that will cause the measured resistance to vary quickly. I have replaced quite a few pickups that have been intermittent. Vacuum advance may move the wires.
Oh and "new" rotor buttons are often rubbish and have internal faults to earth via the shaft. Check the spark at the main coil lead first.
Finally, the Lucas ignition module is rubbish, I often replace them with a similar functioning Bosch module. There is a Chevrolet HEI module that can be used as well, it was used by Land Rover in the very first version of this type of electronic distributor, around 1985.
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