I have had this car for 10 years, no problems. I go out today to start up, turns over but won't start. Check for fuel issues no problem, getting gas to the cylinders. Could it be that distributor cap, and rotor could be the problem. Regardless I'm going to replace as they are due, along with new spark plug wires and plugs, any answers? Thanks, Scott. P.S. engine is 318 automatic, with air conditioning, electronic ignition.
2006-09-04 17:27:50 · 8 answers · asked by sskjvh1111 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Also car does not have points, just cap and rotor. No spark going to plugs, but coil shows as being hot with multimeter
2006-09-04 17:46:10 · update #1
There are a multitude of possibilities. It could be the cap and rotor, or the starter relay. I had a '79 dodge power wagon that the starter relay went out on. It did the same thing your car is doing. It took me, my little brother, and my best friend three days to track the problem. So if checking the usual ignition components doesn't fix the problem, I would look at the starter relay. I hope it isn't as much of a headache as mine was. Good Luck
2006-09-04 17:40:39 · answer #1 · answered by cletusthajester 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it act like it wants to start, but then dies? It could be the ballast resistor is bad. This is a white ceramic thing that is usually located on the firewall. There are two connectors that plug in, one on each side.
They made two different types of ballast resistor, one had two wires to each connector, one only had single wires. Either one is held onto the firewall with one bolt!
Try the paper clip test to see if the ballast resistor is your problem. Take a paper clip (or 2 depending on the type of resistor you have) and straighten it out. Pull the connectors off the ballast resistor and use the paper clip(s) to connect the wire(s) do not allow the paper clips to touch, or to ground to the body.
Try to start the car. If it starts, turn it off and replace the ballast resistor. Do not drive with the resistor bypassed as that can cause damage to the ignition system.
If the car does not start, most likely either the magnetic pickup in the distributor is bad, or the drive gear on the distributor has broken free. Take the distributor cap off and make sure that the rotor is turning when you crank the motor. If not, the gear (or worst case the timing chain) is bad. If it turns, the magnetic pickup needs to be replaced!!
2006-09-05 01:21:34 · answer #2 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have gas, so the only thing missing is spark.
If you have an old plug, clamp the base to an engine ground and stick one of the plug wires on it. You should see spark while cranking.
Maybe your points loosened up and closed off, or do you have a coil pickup type distributer?
****** As far as the ballast resistor is concerned, and if I remember correctly from "the good old days", it is only used after the car starts. If you are in the crank position, that should be bypassed giving the coil the full battery voltage. Once it starts and is in the run position, the voltage to the coil is dropped down a bit by the ballast resisitor.
2006-09-05 00:34:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
ck the + side of coil for power hold a plug wire alitte bit from the cap and see if it thows a spark or pull a plug wire from a plug put a plug in the wire and ground it .turn the car over and watch the plug to see if it has spark.ps is the car for sale?
2006-09-05 00:40:13 · answer #4 · answered by weasel814048 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the 'Ballast Resistor' it,s a white ceramic block mounted on the firewall behind the engine but up top in plain view. It is held on by one bolt and has 2 wire connectors that plug into it. My father sold Chrysler,s back in the 70,s and that was a fairly common problem and would do just what you describe.I used to carry a spare one in my glove box just in case. Good luck I hope it,s that simple.
2006-09-05 00:39:11 · answer #5 · answered by Iknowthisone 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is a 73 it should still have points too. You might want to replace them too. Before you do all that work check the coil to see if you are getting spark or if one of the wires going to it has broken or come unhooked. This could be the source of a lot of problems. Good Luck!
2006-09-05 00:36:42 · answer #6 · answered by fastsaf 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be the igniation module, have it tested first.
It could also be the starter relay.
2006-09-05 00:32:14 · answer #7 · answered by David S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try pouring a little bit of gas in the carb it should fire then
2006-09-05 00:31:06 · answer #8 · answered by foothill4fun 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋