Chevrolet Repair: 1996 Chevy 1500 4.3L wont start, defective coil, spark tester

Question
I have no spark on my pickup truck.  I've been directed to check for spark from the coil or for voltage to the coil; how do I do this?

Answer
If you have a spark tester you disconnect the coil wire that goes to the distributor, install the spark tester on that wire, crank the engine and look for spark. If you do not have a spark tester you can hold the coil wire with insulated pliers near any engine ground.

Also check it directly at the coil to eliminate a possibly defective coil wire. If you have another coil you plug it in to use as a test coil. I the engine starts...the coil was the problem.