Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1980 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II, rolls royce silver shadow, spark plug wires

Question
Good Morning Vern,
Thanks for the quick response on my starting problem on my 1980 RR.  One question; I did not change the spark plugs because I did not get a spark from the coil wire when I placed it close to a "ground".  Is my logic correct?

Thanks,
Bill

Answer
Not sure I follow you test, but do the following.

1. Pull the coil wire off the distributor and try
to start the car. If the coil is working, you should
get fire from the tip of the wire. If not or if weak,
you need a new coil.

2. Pull one or two spark plug wires off try to start the car
to see if you are getting fire to the plug. If yes and the sparks are strong,
The distributor should be OK. If not, the Amplifier could be bad.

3. Pull one of the plugs and check for black carbon build up and
wetness. If they are covered with black carbon, replace all of them or
give them a good cleaning.

If all of the above checks out OK, replace the Ballast Resistor.