Ignition Problem
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
Ignition Problem
Well I still can't get my motor fired but I THINK I've narrowed it down to an ignition problem. I said before I had spark and I do...sometimes. I rechecked for spark on the no.1 and 2 plugs. Number one would fire sometimes and other times nothing. No. 2 never fired. This is my setup: HEI, ACCEL 300+ box(new), ACCEL375+digital module(new), ACCEL U-groove shorty plugs(new), ACCEL 300+ plug wires(new), Optima Red Top battery(fairly new). This is what I have done so far to chase down the problem:
1) checked for 12 volts at the ignition connection, there was 12.
2) checked for spark on several plugs, got it sometimes, on one plug.
3) bypassed the ignition box/module, no difference.
4) installed the distributor from the VETTE which I KNOW works, no difference.
5) rechecked distributor/rotor position at TDC, comp stroke
6) charged the battery prior to attempting to start the vehicle. Battery showed 12.7 volts.
This is a non-computer controlled vehicle. I'm going
Any thoughts on what the prob could be??
1) checked for 12 volts at the ignition connection, there was 12.
2) checked for spark on several plugs, got it sometimes, on one plug.
3) bypassed the ignition box/module, no difference.
4) installed the distributor from the VETTE which I KNOW works, no difference.
5) rechecked distributor/rotor position at TDC, comp stroke
6) charged the battery prior to attempting to start the vehicle. Battery showed 12.7 volts.
This is a non-computer controlled vehicle. I'm going
Any thoughts on what the prob could be??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
Originally Posted by big_G
Coil?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 2
From: Ft.Worth Texas
yep, it's you. nobody likes you anymore. 
Well, just kidding.......It sounds like your starter is sucking all the juce and not letting the coil get enough. I think there is a wire on your starter to the ingn. that is supposed to prevent this but I don't have a diagram to look at. Maybe someone else can help.
Well, just kidding.......It sounds like your starter is sucking all the juce and not letting the coil get enough. I think there is a wire on your starter to the ingn. that is supposed to prevent this but I don't have a diagram to look at. Maybe someone else can help.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Originally Posted by nastee383
Anyone else? Is it just me or do my requests for help/advice get far fewer responses than most others? 
Brett
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by nastee383
Anyone else? Is it just me or do my requests for help/advice get far fewer responses than most others?
As for your issue.. I don't know what to tell you....
I'd probably try to borrow a friends ignition or get a HEI from the junk yard for $30 to check if it would work with another ignition..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 2
From: Ft.Worth Texas
Originally Posted by 69vettester
Coils dont fail very often but borrow a good coil hook it up and test. Maybe thats all it is?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
I've done some internet research since the original post and I've learned alot about how ignitions work and how other components such as the ignition switch can play a role in a "weak" ignition, etc.
When I put the distributor from the Vette in there and it didn't change, that eliminated alot of possibilities, such as the coil, module. I have some tests to do based on what I've read in some tech articles. I just hope I don't hurt myself because I'm no electrician. I already fried a fusible link, never seen one burn up before. It looked like a smoke bomb. That's been repaired. Now for the hard part.
And lastly, I do appreciate the responses I get. I know sometimes I don't respond to posts because it seems the person has already done everything I know to tell them or someone else has already suggested what I was going to. I was just hoping someone had maybe experienced the same problem and had a solution. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm still ahead of the game, I've received alot of good info from the forum.
When I put the distributor from the Vette in there and it didn't change, that eliminated alot of possibilities, such as the coil, module. I have some tests to do based on what I've read in some tech articles. I just hope I don't hurt myself because I'm no electrician. I already fried a fusible link, never seen one burn up before. It looked like a smoke bomb. That's been repaired. Now for the hard part.
And lastly, I do appreciate the responses I get. I know sometimes I don't respond to posts because it seems the person has already done everything I know to tell them or someone else has already suggested what I was going to. I was just hoping someone had maybe experienced the same problem and had a solution. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm still ahead of the game, I've received alot of good info from the forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
If you have 12 volts at the ignition coil connection (pink wire) with the switch on and it drops to 10.5 during cranking is that normal? Or should it remain around 12? I'm thinking as someone suggested that maybe the starter is drawing too much current during cranking. It is making a little noise during cranking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Hard to see the problem from here in CA.
I would really like to help nastee but u have an ignition box i'm not familair with. Even though my MSD sytem has a installation & trouble guide and even if u were using MSD it would take forever to compare notes over the internet. But i do know that u can run that HEI with only 1 wire and bypass that box - just to run it. As far as testing spark if u hold the coil wire (dist end) within 1/8" of exposed metal on engine/block (vlv cover) a bright blue spark is a good one - other colors of sparks ain't.
Again i apologise but to troubleshoot a bad coil and/or dist module would be a large task to do here. Now Dr. Jacobs books on ignitions will take care of that and i just bought his latest from Summit for $20 - Optimizing Your Ignition. Easy to locate and can read just the part sections that u want to test.
Sorry to hear ur troubles but u know there's always unexpected delays when starting up a custom engine let alone a swap.
cardo0
Again i apologise but to troubleshoot a bad coil and/or dist module would be a large task to do here. Now Dr. Jacobs books on ignitions will take care of that and i just bought his latest from Summit for $20 - Optimizing Your Ignition. Easy to locate and can read just the part sections that u want to test.
Sorry to hear ur troubles but u know there's always unexpected delays when starting up a custom engine let alone a swap.
cardo0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Oooopps.
Originally Posted by cardo0
... As far as testing spark if u hold the coil wire (dist end) within 1/8" of exposed metal on engine/block (vlv cover) a bright blue spark is a good one - other colors of sparks ain't.
...
...
:o cardo0
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
Originally Posted by cardo0
I would really like to help nastee but u have an ignition box i'm not familair with. Even though my MSD sytem has a installation & trouble guide and even if u were using MSD it would take forever to compare notes over the internet. But i do know that u can run that HEI with only 1 wire and bypass that box - just to run it. As far as testing spark if u hold the coil wire (dist end) within 1/8" of exposed metal on engine/block (vlv cover) a bright blue spark is a good one - other colors of sparks ain't.
Again i apologise but to troubleshoot a bad coil and/or dist module would be a large task to do here. Now Dr. Jacobs books on ignitions will take care of that and i just bought his latest from Summit for $20 - Optimizing Your Ignition. Easy to locate and can read just the part sections that u want to test.
Sorry to hear ur troubles but u know there's always unexpected delays when starting up a custom engine let alone a swap. cardo0
Again i apologise but to troubleshoot a bad coil and/or dist module would be a large task to do here. Now Dr. Jacobs books on ignitions will take care of that and i just bought his latest from Summit for $20 - Optimizing Your Ignition. Easy to locate and can read just the part sections that u want to test.
Sorry to hear ur troubles but u know there's always unexpected delays when starting up a custom engine let alone a swap.
cardo0I took my starter off to examine it and something is fragged on the inside even though it still turns the motor over. There is grease from inside slung all around the area of the starter gear. I would take it apart to see what happened but it's under warranty and the paperwork said if you disassemble it, the warranty is void. Maybe there's a connection between the starter and the "no start" problem.