Confirm Actron Dwell function working

[iflights]

Purchased an Actron meter on eBay. Connected green clip to pin 3 of diagnostic port and black clip to engine as ground. Meter does not move.

Checked voltage function of meter, and it registers fairly accurately when compared to digital meter.

Is there another location I can pick up the dwell signal to confirm this meter doesn't function? I cannot quickly get to the diag port wire connector to get the orange wire as there is zero slack.

Thanks
Steve

[Bitsyncmaster]

There is a two pin connector on the engine harness that has the orange wire in it. Also has a green wire in the other pin.

You could also connect to the red/brown wire on the three pin bulkhead connector going to the frequency valve.

[David T]

A digital meter is not the best kind of meter to use, an old analog meter with a needle is the way to go.

[iflights]

A digital meter is not the best kind of meter to use, an old analog meter with a needle is the way to go.

Not using a digital meter for Dwell.

[iflights]

There is a two pin connector on the engine harness that has the orange wire in it. Also has a green wire in the other pin.

You could also connect to the red/brown wire on the three pin bulkhead connector going to the frequency valve.

Thanks Dave.

[Michael]

A digital meter is not the best kind of meter to use, an old analog meter with a needle is the way to go.

This is excellent advice. Here is some more advice that has nothing whatsoever to do with your original question..

You want to make sure you are hooking the meter to a DeLorean and not a fence post or a cat.

Don't eat your dwell meter. Save it for later use.

If your dwell meter breaks or is stolen, you should buy another one.

[Jack]

There is a two pin connector on the engine harness that has the orange wire in it. Also has a green wire in the other pin.

You could also connect to the red/brown wire on the three pin bulkhead connector going to the frequency valve.

What he said.
Likely at some point in the cars life someone disconnected that two pair wire from diagnostic port.
Check that first, you will likely find the two pair wire rolled up or tucked behind something.
Could also just be hanging down toward the transmission.

[iflights]

What he said.
Likely at some point in the cars life someone disconnected that two pair wire from diagnostic port.
Check that first, you will likely find the two pair wire rolled up or tucked behind something.
Could also just be hanging down toward the transmission.

Similar to what I was thinking, port is disconnected.

Found the two pair connector with orange wire wedged behind some vacuum lines. Can't get to it or even free up slack without disassembling.

Looks like its disassemble time this weekend.

Thanks Jack.

[Helirich]

This is excellent advice. Here is some more advice that has nothing whatsoever to do with your original question..

You want to make sure you are hooking the meter to a DeLorean and not a fence post or a cat.

Don't eat your dwell meter. Save it for later use.

If your dwell meter breaks or is stolen, you should buy another one.

I laughed entirely too much at that.

[iflights]

Meter was bad, sent it back. I appreciate Michael's wit and his ability to maintain the grain on a stainless steel car. Really want to learn that skill someday.