I've replaced all of my ignitoin componnets except for my external coil. I used a test plug to see if I had a good spark and as I Watched I saw I had a deep orange color spark. None of my cylinders are missing a spark as checked by my timing light with a regular flash on each wire. The motor hesitates badly and shakes and stutters with a bad gasoline odor from the tail pipes. Is this a sign that my coil is bad or should I be using Platinum Plugs on my 92 Camaro RS with 305 TBI engine (VIN code E)? Any other checks I should make? I used an ohmmeter on my coil and it all checked out but I don't know what the actual test specifications are other than what's in my chilton manual.Thanks for all the help so far!

 

i would say NO on the platinum plugs... unless your driving a mini van or a honda....

if the coil "checked" out then you must know the actual specifications or how would you know it checked out?

 

Chilton gave me three tests to do on the coil and it gave me things like low or zero, very high or infanite and not infinate. What I'm saying is I don't have a number range. I reset the timing on the car after it warmed up and disconnected the EST bypass connector to set it to 6 BTDC and re connected the connector. The car ran better but still acted like I described with an orange sprk from the plug instead of bright blue or white like I Belive you should have with this test but I could be wrong about what it should be.

 

A bad gasoline odor from the exhaust is likely an excessively rich fuel condition, not the plugs.

 

What causes that?

 

rich? could be bad injectors, bad 02 sensor, etc anything fuel related

 

Platinum plugs will not fix anything if the current plugs work - the reason for platinum plugs is extended plug life (they last longer) - not performance or fixing run problems... despite what the ads say.

Now - you said your 'spark' was orange? Thats probably not good... sounds like a very weak spark to me. Spark should be a very bright white or blue electrical arc; it should look like lightning on a small scale.

Poor spark will cause poor running, lack of power, hard starting, bad mileage, and stink like gas if its bad enough. I'd suggest trying a known good coil and see if anything changes.

Check your plug wires and coil wire as well, make sure none are cracking or burnt. That causes all kinds of problems too.
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Not always true - poor spark or a misfire will cause this as well.