1998 200SX 1.6 CA won't start suspect coil

[karlandtanya]

My 1998 200SX cranked for several minutes without starting a couple months ago (winter in Ohio), then finally started. No problems for a while, then last week halfway down the driveway (now warm, if that's relevant), it killed.

Car has around 240K on it.

Now, it cranks, but won't start.

I removed the dist cap & scraped the points (they were very crusty) & put it back; no change.

Next, took took a jumper cable to the block & clamped a screwdriver in the other end, then put the tip near the dist. cap spark plug terminal. No sparky.

Next, removed the cap again took the same setup to the coil spring. Spark is intermittent and weak (to me, anyhow).

Bought a new cap & rotor & installed them, then tested again.

Cap back on; wife cranking the engine; no spark at the dist. cap terminal.Tested spark at coil--looks intermittent and weak (again--I'm not a car guy--it just didn't look very sparky).

I suspect the coil, began taking the area apart.

Ah--I've found the ignition diagnostic for a sentra that looks like my 200SX.

Going to try that tomorrow & see if it's the coil.New dist cost about $230 online. Maybe it's the resistor...
Modified by karlandtanya at 3:52 AM 5/9/2009