Engine died and refuses to start, now what??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
Engine died and refuses to start, now what??
The scenario goes as follows: Son-in-law's '75 L-82 - Stomped on the gas to "go fast" and heard a pop and then silence.
Things we checked out so far:
1. Gas in the tank - carb. pumps gas into manifold
2. Then focused on ignition. No spark at spark plugs.
3. Removed coil and module - took to NAPA and verified module was OK.
4. Couldn't check coil, so bought a new one.
5. Re-assembled everything - still no spark.
6. Checked rotor and it turns with the engine, so it's still connected to the cam.
7. Checked the module wire harness and it looks good. No pinches or apparent opens.
8. Verified that there is power going to the Bat. terminal on the distributor.
NOW WHAT??
Things we checked out so far:
1. Gas in the tank - carb. pumps gas into manifold
2. Then focused on ignition. No spark at spark plugs.
3. Removed coil and module - took to NAPA and verified module was OK.
4. Couldn't check coil, so bought a new one.
5. Re-assembled everything - still no spark.
6. Checked rotor and it turns with the engine, so it's still connected to the cam.
7. Checked the module wire harness and it looks good. No pinches or apparent opens.
8. Verified that there is power going to the Bat. terminal on the distributor.
NOW WHAT??
Last edited by 7T9Shark; Jun 3, 2005 at 11:08 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
you need to check to see if you have 12v going to the dist, is this an HEI if so its on the drivers side of the dist cap pull off the spade connector and verify you have 12v+
if its a points dist verify you have voltage at the coil, don't be surprised if your coil voltage is less then 12v. it will be less because of the ballast resistor
out of curiosity does the rest of your electrical system work properly?
if its a points dist verify you have voltage at the coil, don't be surprised if your coil voltage is less then 12v. it will be less because of the ballast resistor
out of curiosity does the rest of your electrical system work properly?
Last edited by bobs77vet; Jun 3, 2005 at 10:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
Good call - I forgot to mention in my troubleshooting list that I did verify with a test light, that I have 12V at the "Batt" terminal on the dist. It's an HEI unit, by the way.
My next venture might have to be under the advance plate to see if there's something amiss with the magnetic coil.
My next venture might have to be under the advance plate to see if there's something amiss with the magnetic coil.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
Yes, cap and rotor are almost new. I just checked the shop manual, and realized that I overlooked the pickup coil. It has two leads going to the module. Perhaps that's the culprit.
Doesn't leave much else to go wrong, eh?
I'll tackle that tomorrow. If you have any other ideas, I'm all ears.
Thanks.
Doesn't leave much else to go wrong, eh?
I'll tackle that tomorrow. If you have any other ideas, I'm all ears.
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
look carefully to make sure something is grounding the internal workings of the dist....not sure what it could be, but look for a frayed wire etc...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
Update - Replaced the module and coil, even though they didn't check bad. Checked all of the wires going from the module and coil pick up and they all Ohmed out OK.
Checked all voltages to the Tach and Bat. terminals on the Dist. All check to 12 V. and greater than 7 V. when cranking, just like the shop manual says.
In desperation, removed the cap, hooked a wire to the center electrode and held it 1/4" away from ground and cranked it over.
Still No Spark!!
Looks like the next step is going to be a flat bed tow to a garage, because I've run out of ideas.
Any miracle workers out there??
Checked all voltages to the Tach and Bat. terminals on the Dist. All check to 12 V. and greater than 7 V. when cranking, just like the shop manual says.
In desperation, removed the cap, hooked a wire to the center electrode and held it 1/4" away from ground and cranked it over.
Still No Spark!!
Looks like the next step is going to be a flat bed tow to a garage, because I've run out of ideas.
Any miracle workers out there??
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by 7T9Shark
Update - Replaced the module and coil, even though they didn't check bad. Checked all of the wires going from the module and coil pick up and they all Ohmed out OK.
Checked all voltages to the Tach and Bat. terminals on the Dist. All check to 12 V. and greater than 7 V. when cranking, just like the shop manual says.
In desperation, removed the cap, hooked a wire to the center electrode and held it 1/4" away from ground and cranked it over.
Still No Spark!!
Looks like the next step is going to be a flat bed tow to a garage, because I've run out of ideas.
Any miracle workers out there??
Checked all voltages to the Tach and Bat. terminals on the Dist. All check to 12 V. and greater than 7 V. when cranking, just like the shop manual says.
In desperation, removed the cap, hooked a wire to the center electrode and held it 1/4" away from ground and cranked it over.
Still No Spark!!
Looks like the next step is going to be a flat bed tow to a garage, because I've run out of ideas.
Any miracle workers out there??
Why tow the car? Pull the dist and have it checked or try it in another car.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
ok lets bring new electricity to the distributor right from the battery.....use a spade connector and a long wire....lets make sure that the power isn't cutting off for some reason when you go to crank it....not sure why it would do that but lets rule it out of the equation
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
You're reading my mind - was gonna try that next.
Input voltage consistently checks 12V with ignition on and 8V during cranking, which is per spec., but tomorrow night, will try the remote voltage input trick directly from a battery.
If that doesn't work, the distributor comes out for a teardown. It's getting personal now.....
Thanks for hangin' in there with me.
Input voltage consistently checks 12V with ignition on and 8V during cranking, which is per spec., but tomorrow night, will try the remote voltage input trick directly from a battery.
If that doesn't work, the distributor comes out for a teardown. It's getting personal now.....
Thanks for hangin' in there with me.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I just went through the same thing. It ended up being the ingnition switch mounted on top of the steering column. Drop the steering column, don't do what I did and look for it inside the column.
Last edited by tonygecg; Jun 7, 2005 at 08:46 AM. Reason: show signature
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 7T9Shark
You're reading my mind - was gonna try that next.
Input voltage consistently checks 12V with ignition on and 8V during cranking, which is per spec., but tomorrow night, will try the remote voltage input trick directly from a battery.
If that doesn't work, the distributor comes out for a teardown. It's getting personal now.....
Thanks for hangin' in there with me.
Input voltage consistently checks 12V with ignition on and 8V during cranking, which is per spec., but tomorrow night, will try the remote voltage input trick directly from a battery.
If that doesn't work, the distributor comes out for a teardown. It's getting personal now.....
Thanks for hangin' in there with me.
you know just for giggles and grins lets ground the distributor base right to the same battery.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Minneapolis
SUCCESS!!! Tonight went through the inductor coil trouble shooting sequence one more time, and viola! no resistance. (I think it was intermittent, because on Sunday I was able to measure 500 Ohms)
So, pulled the distributor, replaced the inductor and the thing fired right off.
Thanks to all for your suggestions. Glad we prevailed.
Anybody wanna buy a nice '75?
So, pulled the distributor, replaced the inductor and the thing fired right off.
Thanks to all for your suggestions. Glad we prevailed.
Anybody wanna buy a nice '75?