Volvo 500dp (petrol) help needed please.

[Elessar]

Launched my friend's Falcon 23 today. He bought it about 3 weeks ago, it went well on the trial, and it's been out of the water since being cleaned/antifouled etc.

The big day was today, but she wouldn't start.

Possisbly related jobs done whilst out:
New fuel line
New battery switches

Tests done so far:
Turns over well and fast.
Fuel arriving at carb OK.
No spark.
9v at +ve side of coil.
Coil hot.
Remove -'ve side of coil and there is 12v at the +ve side.
Replace -ve and current flows, dragging the +ve side down to 9V.
Resistance across the LV side of the distrubutor about 150 ohms.

Thus I think its the electronic ignition bit in the distibutor.

Questions:
Do you think I'm right? If not what's your diagnosis?
How much of the distibutor needs replacing and how much will it be? Where's the best place to source it?
Any trusted volvo chaps you can recommend on the Thames, especially if it can be done before next Wednesday?

Thanks for reading this far!

 

[gordmac]

What makes you think it is the distributor and not the coil?
If you have a manual it may give the coil resistances, worth checking.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Connect a plug and plug lead to the coil output, when you remove the 12V or earth from the coil do you get a good single spark at the plug? If so trigger pack in distributor is suspect, if not then coil is prob duff.

 

[Elessar]

Thanks both.

Forgot to say we changed the coil, but the tip for testing it a good one - will try that.