Ignition Problem?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Ignition Problem?
I have been having some issues on my 72 corvette. I am currently running a pertronix flame thrower coil with electronic ignition instead of the points.
I thought the problem was due to a ground wire from the starter being disconnected due to a sheared bolt at the bellhousing, but I fixed this and the same problems occur.
The problem:
It seems after the car is running and gets warm, when I am coming to a stop or turning into a driveway, at random times the car will die; or even when you shut the car down when at a gas station the car will not restart. I try to restart the car and the starter won't turn over. Gauge shows battery is discharging when turn the key to start but nothing happens (no clicking or anything from the starter); multimeter shows there is full power at least as far as the coil. I usually have to push start the car and then it seems to go again (once you get the car going say after a mile of driving you can turn the key off and restart the car just fine).
I was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems or any ideas.
I thought the problem was due to a ground wire from the starter being disconnected due to a sheared bolt at the bellhousing, but I fixed this and the same problems occur.
The problem:
It seems after the car is running and gets warm, when I am coming to a stop or turning into a driveway, at random times the car will die; or even when you shut the car down when at a gas station the car will not restart. I try to restart the car and the starter won't turn over. Gauge shows battery is discharging when turn the key to start but nothing happens (no clicking or anything from the starter); multimeter shows there is full power at least as far as the coil. I usually have to push start the car and then it seems to go again (once you get the car going say after a mile of driving you can turn the key off and restart the car just fine).
I was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems or any ideas.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
It does sound like a heat soak problem, (you could do a search there is plenty of info and several threads in the last few weeks), but that would not explain the random shut downs. The ignition switch could be tied to both problems. Do you have voltage at the coil after a random shutdown (without retrying the key start)?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
I believe that time I tested to see if the coil had power I turned the key off and back on. A lot of people seem to think it is this heat soak problem (I thought this could possibly be the case also), but I have been driving the car around for the last two summers and just in the last 2 months has it become a progressivly worsening issue. I could see this on extremly hot days where the outside air temp only ads to the heat buildup, however the last time I had driven it was only low 70's out and it occurred after only a 10 minute drive.
