The GM HEI distributor was used in various GM vehicles manufactured between the early 1970s and late 1980s. A common test used to determine whether the HEI distributor is functioning properly is the secondary spark test in which a spark tester is inserted into the distributor to see if a spark is emitted. If there is no spark on the distributor, there could be one of three issues: the battery is no longer working, the distributor is not wired properly or the distributor will need to be replaced.
Instructions
- 1
Put on the gloves and open the hood of your GM vehicle. The most common issue with an HEI distributor that is not giving off a spark is the car's battery.
2Disconnect the battery using a socket wrench. Remove the negative cable first, then the positive cable.
3Place the black end of the multimeter to the negative battery terminal and the red end to the positive terminal. Turn the multimeter on and check the reading. If it is close to zero, the battery is dead and will need to be replaced. If the battery has a charge, the issue is with the distributor.
4Use a socket wrench to make sure the distributor cap is wired properly. Tighten the wires on the distributor cap. If any wires are loose, properly secure them to the distributor cap. If the issue persists, the problem may be with the distributor itself. If the distributor is faulty, you may need to install a replacement HEI distributor.
