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'75 Won't Start...not getting fire I believe

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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 12:54 AM
  #1  
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Default '75 Won't Start...not getting fire I believe

Hi,

I'm having trouble getting my '75 to fire up. The last time it was started was a few weeks ago and it ran great. In fact, I've had no issues from it over the last 15 or so years. Now the engine spins but will not fire up. I tried starting fluid and nothing happens. I changed the ignition coil and no change. The plugs and wires look good.

I'm more familiar with points style ignitions than with the HEI. I feel like I may be missing something simple....anything else I should check? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you,


Rob T.
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 01:45 AM
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Is there fuel squirting into the carb?
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 02:00 AM
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make sure the wire on the center of the distributor is secure... after that pull a wire from a spark plug and hook a spare spark plug up to it and see if it sparks...

: Delete: if you had bad gas it could have fouled the spark plugs so check to see that they look good as well..: Delete:

If you take apart the dist and inspect the rotor button for build up.. it can easily be cleaned with a little sand paper

While I highly doubt it, someone may have played a trick on you and re-arranged the plug wires... getting them in the incorrect order which would give you a situtation where the spark fires when the piston is NOT at the top of the cylinder with compressed fuel and air.. just an idea if all else fails...

best of luck

Merry Christmas!

Last edited by bryanpl123; Dec 25, 2010 at 02:06 AM. Reason: re-read noticed you said the plugs look good
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 06:47 AM
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Default ignition module

Inside the distributer is an electronic chip. They fail and the car won't start. Mine died a couple of years ago. Replacements available at most parts stores, easy to install in about half an hour.
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by bryanpl123
pull a wire from a spark plug and hook a spare spark plug up to it and see if it sparks.

Lay the spark plug with wire attached on top of engine so the plug grounds and crank engine. Look for spark.
No spark-check for 12 volts at the large pink or red wire plugged into the BATT connection on dist.
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 09:43 AM
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Ignition module, or wires going to the module are good suspects. Parts store can test the module, but if you have it out might as well replace it. Check the wires at the distributor to the module. Merry Christmas.

TommyJ
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 10:31 AM
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My 75 has three times done that, twice the small button in the inside of the dist. to the rotor has broken and come off, once the ignition module in the dist has gone bad.
Pull the cap and see if the button is there.
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Mikaman
Inside the distributer is an electronic chip. They fail and the car won't start. Mine died a couple of years ago. Replacements available at most parts stores, easy to install in about half an hour.


sgm
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 11:08 PM
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Inside the distributer is a module with two small wires comming out. Most of the time, one of these wires has broke. Only problem with HEI. I should have said, the wires come from the pick-up to the module.

Last edited by 78 silver 78; Dec 25, 2010 at 11:31 PM.
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Old Dec 26, 2010 | 12:08 PM
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Turns out it was in fact the ignition control module...I didn't even know that existed. Thanks guys....ya'll taught me something new!


Rob T.
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