MG Car Repair: Non Starting 1976, black leads, votage

Question
QUESTION: OK as you suggested I disconnected the white with black leads from the coil and tested voltage at that terminal with the points open. I got 5 volts at positive terminal and 0 votage at negative side. What next? Scott

ANSWER: Scott, with no wires on the negative side of the coil, you can't have 5v on the positive side and zero on the negative side. Unless you didn't get all of the wires off of the negative side or you have a shorted out coil.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok sorry about that. I had the ground spade still ttached. Now...... with the points open and ALL wires off of the negative post of the coil, I get 12 v at the positive AND negative posts.

ANSWER: What "ground spade" and what color was the wire?
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I meant I still had the solid black wire attached to the negative post of the coil which goes to the side of the distributor.

Answer
MG never used a solid black wire to run from the coil to the points on any MG. Someone has replaced the original wire (white w/black tracer) that went to the points.

With it connected and the cap off so you can see the points, rotate the engine until the points are open and turn the key on and test the coil again. You should have 12v on both sides of the coil. If not, you have a short in the distributor.

Howard