Amplifier testing

[rincewind23]

Hi all,

I'm building a car, using the Rover 3.5 v8 efi out of a 1990 Discovery. I finally got all the wiring sorted out - everything now works as it should (fuel pump pumps when ignition is turned on, engine turns over, turning off ignition the air flow flap resets itself), however it won't start. Going back to what my dad taught me years ago, I pulled one of the plugs, ground it on the frame and turned it over. I'm getting (what I think is) a really crappy spark, so I think that may be the problem.

I checked the resistance on the secondary coil and it's outside the range quoted in the Haynes manual, so I ordered a new one. I'm now trying to test the amplifier on the distributor, according to the instructions here:

http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com/pag ... est01.html

I build the off-car test rig, and my reading is that when the test button is depressed the light should be off, and when the button is released the light should go on. Is this right? What I'm actually seeing is that (intermittently) when I press the test button the light switches state, and when I release it there's no change.

I'm hoping better minds than mine can tell me if this means the amplifier is b0rked or not? My guess is yes.

Cheers,
KEv.