COP running on one cylinder out of 3

[kcswimrac]

Hi there, i'm very confused now. I've got a 3 cylinder 1.2L engine running with coil on plug, with a 36-1 trigger and a cam sensor. I tested the coils in test mode they all spark in order, also well cranking they operate correctly. But when it's running I can't use my timing light in the coil number 1. So I did a little experiment. If I fire it up it runs.., then if i disconnect coil 1 and 3, it makes absolutely no difference in quality of running. I'm still in the process of trying to get the engine to run well and this surely makes things difficult lol. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[subwoofer]

<idiot mode>
You haven't got the cylinder numbering backwards? It is obviously only running on #2, how about swapping leads on 1 and 3?
</idiot mode>

[kcswimrac]

<!-- Insert snarky defensive remark here -->

Yea I figured that out later in the day, but how were you able to tell? Just curious. lol