Ok I have an inductive timing light, with no dial on the back. It hooks to the battery, and then to the #1 spark plug.

What I am noticing is that it doesnt always light. The gun is in good condition near new and high quality.

What I mean by not alwyas lighting, is at n idle while checking the timing, it will strobe like it is supposed to, but sometimes, actually quite a bit it misses. blink blink blink.. no blink no blink..blink blink.

I am wondering if that's just the nature of inductive timing lights, or if it is an indication of the engine actually not getting spark at that time.

Yes its connected to the spark plug wire firmly, and the battery that's the first thing I checked.

If this isn't normal behavior for a timing light, anyone have suggestions on what might be the problem?

 

Awww... no answers.. wondering if I have an ignition problem, or if it is just the timing light

 

I have seen this happen too, can mean several things... that there is no juice going thru the number 1 wire at that time, or you have a poor connection between the wire and the inductive clamp. Generally not the strobe. Check all your wires, replace if necessary the number 1 wire to get an accurate reading. But also remember, inductive pickup of spark is not direct contact, so a weak spark thru an insulated wire may be hard to pick up. Faulty coil??? Possibly. Check it on other wires, just to see if it gives the same type of flash flash flash....flash flash....etc. Then you might see a pattern to indicate a wire problem, or coil problem. Hope that helps.

 

Another possibility is that the pickup on the light is cracked. Do you remember ever dropping it? It almost seems like the thing is just dying to hit the ground or something hard anyway. I thought I had a miss, but the light pickup was cracked.