Manual control of waste spark ignition coil

2007 Ford Ranger with 4.0L engine. In ScannerDanner video (Ignition System Testing-Primary Current Audi Part 1) Paul manually controls waste spark ignition coil with test light. I have tried to replicate his test with the ford ignition coil, but I am unable to duplicate (no spark from coil). Any reason the Ford coil would not behave the same as the Audi?

If you're testing the coil out off the car you may have to ground the coil housing separately if only 4 wires connect to the coil.

If you're testing in the car: does none of the 3 coils spark? Do you have proper voltage and ground connections?

That Ford has 2 wire coils ground side switched by the PCM. A scope on a rope won't flow near enough current to make it spark.

Guessing that Audi had 3+ wire, internally switched, coils and Paul was toggling the coil control with the test light.

I tried the test in and out of vehicle and verified proper power and grounds with each test. Also tried test with a known good coil, but still got no spark.

Looks like in Paul's video he mentions there being transistors inside the coil as well as in the computer. The only wiring diagrams I can find do not show any transistors in the Ford coil. Would that be the reason for my test light not allowing enough flow to activate the coil?

weberindustries wrote:

Would that be the reason for my test light not allowing enough flow to activate the coil?

Two wires coils definitely won't work with the current limitation from a test light.

You may pulse/test these coils by grounding them briefly manually. Make sure you're on the negative side of the coil (control side) snd use a fused jumper wire.