Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 1986 Cutlass Cierra V6, cutlass cierra, path of least resistance

Question
Hello Van. I have a 1986 Cutlass Cierra V6 On the ignition coil, the spark is jumping from one side to the other. Do I need a new ignition coil or do you think it might be something else? Thanks for any help Georgina
P.S. This may not matter, but I have just had (this week) the Windshield motor replaced and rack and pinion replaced.

Answer
Hello Georgina,
The top of the coil could have a small crack, which gets moisture in it, and the spark will follow that.
If there is no crack, or if it seems to jump around at different places, it may be that there is just too much resistance to flow through the coil wire, distributor cap, rotor, plug wires, and spark plugs. The spark will take the path of least resistance, and that might be just jumping from the main terminal to ground.
If you have never changed the distributor cap and rotor on that car, as well as the plug wires, it may be overdue.

The only way that other stuff would come into play is if the jumping spark just started right after that work was done. Not that there is any connection, but something might have been done during the work.

Van