Volkswagen: 1990 Jetta Coil Problem, dashboard lights, coil works

Question
I do have a new battery. I believe that the wires going to the positive side of the coil should have voltage and there is none. Where does the voltage that is supposed to be on the positive side of the coil come from?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
No spark. From the coil to distributor I have battery voltage with key on when I crank engine voltage drops. On the coil there are 2 black leads going to the negitive side of the coil and 2 red/black leads to the positive side. With coil disconnected and key on the only wire I get voltage on is one of the black wires which is connected to the negitive side of the coil. I get nothing on either of the red wires. I am a do it yourselfer and do OK most of the time but I am not all that sure about how the coil works but I do understand the purpose to take the battery voltage and increase it to the distributor. Help and thank you in advance.
1990 Jetta 8V I am only working from a chilton book.
Answer -
Steven,

Check all of the water holes in your battery and make sure that it is completely filled with distilled water.

Also, turn on your lights, and start the vehicle,  if there is any dimming on your dashboard lights,  than you know that your battery is not putting out enough power to give the coil enough firing voltage.

If you still have a problem, drop me a line.  However, 90% of the time, this causes a weak spark situation.


Ron

Answer
Hi,

Pull off all of the wires from the coil, and remember where they go.

Turn your ignition switch on.

Run a wire from the Neg. terminal on the battery to the coil.

Touch the ground (from the battery to ground on Voltmeter)

No reading -- wire should be on - part of coil

12V -- wire should be on + part of coil

Connect the wires accordingly.

Let me know how that works,

Ron