1975 Chevy Nova stopped going down road and now won't start? Not timing chain,disbutor or coil? any ideas?thax

Question

My husband keeps saying it is not getting any fire. it won't turn over when you try to crank it. when we were going down the road he had the gas pedal to the floor and it slowed down to a stop and now won't crank at all we were told timing chain but it is fine and he check the distubtor and it was fine and he change the coil and still won't start help please thanks

we found out thanx for help It was the engine... the compression

Answer 1

Ok, there are no points, ignition or condenser in a 1975 Chevy Nova. They had electronice ignition in those distributors as well. The coil or the ignition module may be your culprit here. I would remove the cap and rotor 1st. A sneaky or pesky problem with those older ignition systems back then was a wire that would run to the module. The module bolts onto the ignition plate itself. The wire going to this module runs under the plate where the module would bolt onto. When the vacuum advance would pull the plate to advance the unit it would rub against the wire going into the module and wear away or break this wire. hence you have no spark going to the ignition system. If the wire is good, trplace the module. Also look at the coil under there as well. Remove it and check the bottom of the coil where it makes contact with the spring , if it is blue, then replace this part as well.
Hope this helps, but i know for sure that your problem lies inside your distributor.
Good Luck, and let me know if this was your problem.

Answer 2

Good advise on the electrical side but, from your discription, it sounds like it died over a short period of time. Coil or module failure is like turning off the ignition. Check several sparkplugs to see if they are wet and ground one to the engine with the plug wire attached and crank engine to see if you get a spark. If there is a spark and the plug(s) are dry, it could be a fuel related problem. Filter, bad hose, cracked/rusted line, fuel pump, etc. If plug(s) are dry and there is spark, reinstall plug(s), spray some starting fluid down the carb and try to start. If it fires or runs for 1-2 seconds, definetly a fuel problem. Good luck.

Answer 3

Fuel, air, compression, spark. That's what an engine needs to run. Check those systems. If it won't turn over when you try to start it, check the battery, starter and solenoid circuits.

Or cut your losses and sell it as is. A 75 is 31 years old after all. But if you want to keep it, tow it to the shop and have it looked at.

Answer 4

The alternator may not be pulling enough amps. I have had a car do the same thing to me.

Answer 5

check the points, condenser, ign to coil wire, any loose connections? without seeing it it is pretty hard to diagnose

Answer 6

alternator