Electrical nightmare?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Electrical nightmare?
I went out to fire up the car today for the first time since November. It started right up (after a battery charge) and then nothing. Waited 30 minutes, fired up for about 20 sec and then dead again. 1 more time, same thing. I grabbed a few wires and one of the smaller guage wires (not sure where it goes but not B+) on the back of the alternator snapped in my hand. I spliced in a new section with connectors to try and quick diagnose and nothing. Carb is definitely squirting gas so i don't think fuel problem. Pulled #4 plug and it looked fine. If I connect the plug to the wire and turnt he car over shouldn't it spark? I tried in with the plug in air and also touching various surfaces for ground. No spark.
Ideas?
Ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Ok I got out my voltmeter and I picked up 12V between the alternator and the coil on this MSD system so I think the wires are good. Should I have seen a spark on that #4 plug when I pulled it?
Could this be a choke problem also maybe? Car worked perfect when i put it away severl months ago. Only thing I redid was the brake system.
Could this be a choke problem also maybe? Car worked perfect when i put it away severl months ago. Only thing I redid was the brake system.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Exactly Jeff, runs then dies - and runs w/o missing from the sound of it.
If it was fuel pump or filter would the bowls in the Holley be empty when it dies? Mine are not empty.
Fuel filter is not completely clean but fuel appears to be passing through it. I was planning to replace shortly, I can do today. Haven't checked the pump yet.
If it was fuel pump or filter would the bowls in the Holley be empty when it dies? Mine are not empty.
Fuel filter is not completely clean but fuel appears to be passing through it. I was planning to replace shortly, I can do today. Haven't checked the pump yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
i would say that you're just getting enough fuel to start and run for a short time because of low fuel pressure, clogged filter, or possibly improper float level. i'd start with the easiest-filter. it's also possible that the float is stuck, and you're getting too much gas. does it smell like it's flooded after it dies?
jeff
jeff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
If People Would Only
State in their question just what they have, and precisely what the symptoms are, they might get better answers. This one for instance, didnt have what year nor that it was converted to Electronic, or a clear description of symptoms. I, being and old fart with a bad attitude,
dont want to go hunting up the information in your damn profile. Is that too much to ask?
dont want to go hunting up the information in your damn profile. Is that too much to ask?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
i would say that you're just getting enough fuel to start and run for a short time because of low fuel pressure, clogged filter, or possibly improper float level. i'd start with the easiest-filter. it's also possible that the float is stuck, and you're getting too much gas. does it smell like it's flooded after it dies?
jeff
jeff
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
"Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch. "
But you through us a curve ball by not stating even the most basic facts, and didnt tell us of the changes. It makes a lot of difference if it has electronic mods.
Good luck with your problem.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
I've doen some research on this MSD system and I have come to learn that the boxes and other parts are tempermental. I got it going again yesterday and then no spark again.
Does anyone have experience with their MSD systems failing? I've not had one before this car. I've previously had HEI's and they seemed bullet proof.
Does anyone have experience with their MSD systems failing? I've not had one before this car. I've previously had HEI's and they seemed bullet proof.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
Are you absolutely sure your ignition is failing and causing the engine to die? Does it choke down and stall or does it kill itself immediately?
Try hooking up a timing light and watch it while the engine dies. If the light suddenly goes out, then you obviously have a spark problem.
It could be something as simple as the needle and seat sticking after being stored for a while which would screw up your idle circuit. If that's the case, the accelerator pump will indeed squirt fuel, but that doesn't have anything to do with the float level or the idle circuit. No gas in the bowl = dead engine.
Try hooking up a timing light and watch it while the engine dies. If the light suddenly goes out, then you obviously have a spark problem.
It could be something as simple as the needle and seat sticking after being stored for a while which would screw up your idle circuit. If that's the case, the accelerator pump will indeed squirt fuel, but that doesn't have anything to do with the float level or the idle circuit. No gas in the bowl = dead engine.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Are you absolutely sure your ignition is failing and causing the engine to die? Does it choke down and stall or does it kill itself immediately?
Try hooking up a timing light and watch it while the engine dies. If the light suddenly goes out, then you obviously have a spark problem.
It could be something as simple as the needle and seat sticking after being stored for a while which would screw up your idle circuit. If that's the case, the accelerator pump will indeed squirt fuel, but that doesn't have anything to do with the float level or the idle circuit. No gas in the bowl = dead engine.
Try hooking up a timing light and watch it while the engine dies. If the light suddenly goes out, then you obviously have a spark problem.
It could be something as simple as the needle and seat sticking after being stored for a while which would screw up your idle circuit. If that's the case, the accelerator pump will indeed squirt fuel, but that doesn't have anything to do with the float level or the idle circuit. No gas in the bowl = dead engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
OOH, Someone else has a bad attitude. I tried to help earlier,
"Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch. "
But you through us a curve ball by not stating even the most basic facts, and didnt tell us of the changes. It makes a lot of difference if it has electronic mods.
Good luck with your problem.
"Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch. "
But you through us a curve ball by not stating even the most basic facts, and didnt tell us of the changes. It makes a lot of difference if it has electronic mods.
Good luck with your problem.
WHICH is a classic example of just perZactly why so many guys who know this stuff like the back of their hands.....
don't post so much anymore.....
the 'tudes' are getting deep guys, and frankly I feel free to say so, as ME and MANY others are tired of the
which runs FAR and DEEP in especially the electrical/tronic side of things....much less others on the mechanicals.....
I hate saying this, really do , after some ten years here, BUT it's a huge letdown....
case closed....
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
OOH, Someone else has a bad attitude. I tried to help earlier,
"Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch. "
But you through us a curve ball by not stating even the most basic facts, and didnt tell us of the changes. It makes a lot of difference if it has electronic mods.
Good luck with your problem.
"Go to the coil and check for power on the positive side when the key is on. Or, you might want to use a clip lead and pickup 12V off of the alternator or battery to the positive side of the coil. If it starts and runs, you need to find the bad wire that feeds the coil from the switch or to the switch. "
But you through us a curve ball by not stating even the most basic facts, and didnt tell us of the changes. It makes a lot of difference if it has electronic mods.
Good luck with your problem.
WHICH is a classic example of just perZactly why so many guys who know this stuff like the back of their hands.....
don't post so much anymore.....
the 'tudes' are getting deep guys, and frankly I feel free to say so, as ME and MANY others are tired of the which runs FAR and DEEP in especially the electrical/tronic side of things....
much less others on the mechanicals.....
I hate saying this, really do , after some ten years here, BUT it's a huge letdown....
case closed....
don't post so much anymore.....
the 'tudes' are getting deep guys, and frankly I feel free to say so, as ME and MANY others are tired of the
which runs FAR and DEEP in especially the electrical/tronic side of things....much less others on the mechanicals.....
I hate saying this, really do , after some ten years here, BUT it's a huge letdown....
case closed....
