I have a no start problem. I'm getting a very weak spark. It seems to happen on all the plugs. There's plenty of power the starter turns strong, the gas is getting in.
Could the spark be weak enough that it isn't igniting?

 

not too likely, you have 6 individual coils.
start checking the grounds

 

also check power trasistor

 

Have you tested the spark? Pull the coil and put a spark plug in it and hold it next to the valve cover, have someone "bump" the engine over and "see" if it is getting spark.
Boy, this sounds kinda familar....

 

remember to have your friend hold the spark plug, it tends to be a little shocking.

 

...u learn fast how important insulation is...

--->Check that u get the full +12V on coil packs

 

How do you know you're getting a "weak" spark. Are you going by appearance? Can you tell if you're getting fuel?

 

The spark should be blue in color...orange or red indicates a weak sprark.

 

...orange or red indicates a weak sprark."

--->That was news to me. Can u help getting more deep info...

I've always figured out that inches count, that depends on ambient pressure plus applied voltage at plug gap.

 

Blue = hotter

 

...must depend on nationality 'cause never seen orange ones.


Best way to make sure healthy spark is to measure voltage, but dont do with std DMM - quite disposable in this...

Anyways I do state that if the coils get their primary input as supposed, the output will be ALWAYS right (if any). No way the voltage can vary (cracks, corrosion out from this thread). Secondary voltage spike may leak via dirty surfaces, but initially not vary.

The more compression in the cylinder, the higher voltage is needed to jump the same gap. And to me, testing spark quality (without high voltage meas equipment) means visualization that the spark amply jumps a grounded plug gap, produces a good healthy flash... If no good spark, systems ok, input is to be blamed.

 

Yes I actually did it the right way. I stuck a coil in each spark plug and each time I got a crappy orange thin looking spark as opposed to a thick blue one. Google is good.
I think that there is fuel present mainly because it was all over my face after doing the spark test. it was also flying about a foot out of the cylinder which to me implies compression. Apparently one could cover the spark holes and see if the compression moves your hand - just to be perfectly sure.

I think that confirming the input to the coils would be the thing to do. but if they are bad wouldn't that imply a partial short rather than the failure of a part?
One thing that I thought may work is jump starting her, maybe it would override the problem?

 

Looking at the FSM, it says to check the coils with a ohm meter(+/- .08ohm)
check power to the coils (+/- 12 volts) ..check power transistor resistance......

 

Power transistor failed resistance test. seems completely blown.
$139.00........... bastards. Anyone know of a better price?

 

Thats cheap...my local Nissan Dealer quoted me $414.00
did it fail the first test....or all of them?

 

yeah it failed everything. dead as a doornail.

if i find a used one for 20 bucks i may have to do that. i could buy seven

 

Check your local boneyards.....just take the multimeter with you.....

 

 

Are you sure about that? I don't know if you are right or wrong, but I used to work on boilers and the ignition tranformers that put out 10,000 volts when new would break down and put out 3-4 thousand volts, causing a weak spark. The ignition coils are basically the same thing--primary and secondary wiring coils. Another version of a transformer.