Proper connecting of spark plug wires to distributor cap

It is hoped you have replaced the wires that go from your distributor cap to each of your spark plugs AND that the gap on your plugs are set correctly.. Secondly, if you replaced your rotor head, and it is not sparking, it is very possible your rotor isn't making the connection inside the dist. cap.

the only way to verify this is to get your old rotor and put it back on. If it fires, you know your replacement part isn't configured properly.

Re-Check the wires. One may have come loose. For external coils, check there first. Next, make sure that the rotor is properly seated inside the cap on the Distributor.
Did you also replace any of the spark plugs?
It could also be completely unrelated. Haha. Check for fuel pump operations, and that you are getting fuel. Its either air/fuel/spark.
But definitely check the wires and rotor. Hopefully you put the securing screw back in.

Best of luck, mate.

Next time it doesn't start, spray your plug wires and distributor cap with WD40. If it fires right up replace your plug wires. I had the same problem with my 3 cyl 1.0L .

A tune up consists of changing distributor cap and rotor, wires and spark plugs. I would check to make sure the wires were replaced properly in the correct sequence and were tightly connected to the spark plugs and distributor cap. Next, if they are are tight, I would make sure wires are not touching anything that could ground them out. Looking at them at night with the lights out sometimes reveals a stray spark grounding out on the engine. Besides making sure you seated the rotor into the cap, I would finally check each plug for the proper gag...they don't come pre-gapped anymore. Hope this helps.

This diagram is for 1998-1995 Chevy 6 cylinder 4.3L engines.
Your got the firing order exactly correct, at 1-6-5-4-3-2, but here's the thing to double-check:
The distributor rotation is clockwise (note badly rendered arrow in picture).





Since you probably got everything right, then you're left with really unusual/rare causes of
failure of the ignition system:
(a) rotor button misaligned/failing to make contact?
(b) rotor button not pressed onto distributor shaft far enough therefore failing to provide correct
proximity to distributor cap contacts when coil fires
(c) coil wire or contact loose/disconnected - press coil wire firmly down into distributor cap.
(d) distributor shaft of other damage caused during installation of rotor.
(e) spark plug wires defective from factory
(f) spark plugs defective from factory
(g) battery low - may need a charge to start
(h) ICM (ignition control module) failure - hook up your HEI (high energy ignition) tester, and
watch the quality of the spark on each cylinder.
(i) fuel problem? If spark is being properly delivered, its gotta be a fuel problem...
(j) distributor cap not screwed down flush to top of distributor? maybe just on one side?

Inspect the inside of the distributor cap - if there are lots of little metal bits all over the inside
of the distributor cap, then you know you have a misalignment of some type in there, and the
rotor and cap are destroying each other. normal operation will throw a quota of spark-ed off
metal bits inside the distributor cap, but since your cap is brand new, your attempts to start
the engine should have rotated the distributor so few times, you should see no metal debris.

Inspect the distributor cap contacts to see if any spark marks are more of less in the middle
of the cap's proper "contact zone". If not, you've diagnosed an internal misalignment, which
you know how to correct.

You may have got the spark plug wires out of sequence.
Reseat the coil wire going to the center of the distributor cap Check the spark plug wires at the distributor against the firing order as follows:
The spark plug firing order is 1 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 3 - 6 The distributor rotor turns CLOCKWISE The engine cylinders / spark plugs are numbered :
firewall 3 - 6 2 - 5 1 - 4 front
Best wishes,
TF

If you've got spark from the coil but not at the spark plugs, it can only be 1 of 3 things.

• Bad spark plugs or plugs not gapped properly.
• Bad spark plug wires.
• Bad distributor cap and rotor. This is pretty easy to check. Open up the cap and look at the points on the underside of the cap and also the point on the rotor. If they look corroded or worn, then you should replace them.

Good Luck!
~Brandon

Souds like ignition module has failed. Check for 12 volts to mod and replace mod if voltage is good.

1. Double check the connections at BOTH ends of the wires- at the distributor and at the plug. 2. Make sure each spark plug boot has proper connection. 3. Double check the plugs to make sure that they are all gapped correctly and no contamination. 4. Hold each spark plug upright and make sure that the ceramic insulator near the tip isn't loose and sliding down and possibly covering the metal tip..(had this happen more than once) 5. Check for spark at each plug (be careful) 6. Open the distributor cap and double check all the exposed metal connectors are clean. 7. buy one extra plug and change out the suspect plug.