new distributor cap, won't start now
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
new distributor cap, won't start now
I put a new distrbutor cap, rotor and coil on my 78( it does run). It started for just a second and stopped, I got a quick smell of an electrical burn. I realized I had left off the grounding strap that was in the old cap.
i put all the old items back on, thinking the coil might have gotten damaged. But it only cranks, no ignition. I've tried all combinations of old and new parts with no success. Are there possible fuses involved.
Any suggestions. thanks for any help.
i put all the old items back on, thinking the coil might have gotten damaged. But it only cranks, no ignition. I've tried all combinations of old and new parts with no success. Are there possible fuses involved.
Any suggestions. thanks for any help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Pull one of the plug wires from the spark plug, insert an old plug, ground the plug (away from the carb) while a helper cranks starter. See if you're getting spark.
If not, see if you're getting 12v to the coil (do you have a handheld voltage meter?).
If yes and yes, then you may have 'reset' the timing when you installed the distributor cap. See if the distributor lock-down bracket is loose (can the distributor be turned by hand)?
Do those three things and get back to us for more diagnostics.
If not, see if you're getting 12v to the coil (do you have a handheld voltage meter?).
If yes and yes, then you may have 'reset' the timing when you installed the distributor cap. See if the distributor lock-down bracket is loose (can the distributor be turned by hand)?
Do those three things and get back to us for more diagnostics.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
confirm your firing order...maybe you are off.....did you mark the plug wires before you took them off? i bet you have the sparl plug wires going to the wrong plugs....what did you use as the guide for the spark plug wires
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 1, 2009 at 07:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
if you have spark, it's not getting to the right place at the right time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Agree,..double check your firing order. And make sure all the wires are 'clipped' onto the spark plug.
Did you make sure the distributor lock-down is tight? (You may have turned the distributor while installing the cap.)
A couple of photos posted here may yield some other ideas.
Did you make sure the distributor lock-down is tight? (You may have turned the distributor while installing the cap.)
A couple of photos posted here may yield some other ideas.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Did you loosen the ditributor at all or just take off the cap/rotor assy? If just the cap and rotor then you have the plugs misrouted as already stated. Hopefully you didn't bake the tachometer lead with the smoke check.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
dist. problem
the distributor is not loose, I didn't move it. The rotor can only go on one way, it has a tab on one side. I numbered the wires on the dist. before I took them off. Everything went back in the same order. I can see how the cap could be put back a little off, but I have the external wire connection side in the same place. I only checked spark to 2 plugs, should I check them all.
thanks
thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Remove the distributor cap. Rotate slowly the engine till the 0° timing mark on the damper aligns with the 10° BTDC timing mark of the fixed index ( between 8° and 12° is OK ).
Now visually check that the distributor rotor aligns with either cylinder #1 or #6 spark plug wire on the distributor cap.
Maybe your spark plugs wires are off one cylinder...
Now visually check that the distributor rotor aligns with either cylinder #1 or #6 spark plug wire on the distributor cap.
Maybe your spark plugs wires are off one cylinder...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
I agree with 73 streetrace take a sharpie and make a hash mark at the distributor base at the bottom of each spark plug tower this will make lining the rotor up to it easier......my money says the problem is that the wires are off one.......so each tower location (hash mark on distributor base) the rotor is pointing to needs to match the cylinder that is suppose to be firing and overall it has to match the firing order. look carefully that you didnt accidentally bump the wires over one spark plug tower.
