Ignition problems

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

hwgates

hwgates

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Threads
44
Messages
252
Location
Jackson, ms
Hello everyone!

I know I have been rare around these parts these days but I have been doing a little work on my cruiser and have run into a problem...I replaced the fuel pump and filter today to hopefully remedy my gas delivery problem. i had to take my battery out to access the pump of course...but when i put the battery back in the truck won't start. The Lights will turn on, as well as all the needles in the dash act like they are getting power. But when i turn the key to start there is nothing...

I take it this has something to do with the ignition system...something that I am very unfamiliar with...and to make it more complicated it looks like there has been a few modifications to my system. ie. it doesn't look like it is setup according the wire diagram in my manual.

Anyone have any experience with these things or know someone who does?

Thanks! Look forward to seeing everyone this week at the meeting. :cheers:
 
Look at the starter. It's on the bottom/back of the passenger side of the motor. There's a big wire going to one post of it. Follow that wire, it should go back to your starter. My guess is that when you took the battery out you forgot to re-attach that wire to the positive side of the battery.

If that's not it give me a call. I could swing by some time this afternoon and giver a look see.
 
hey everyone...I am getting a little more than frustrated now...

Greg and Jes came out last weekend and after looking at it said it was either my starter or battery. I took the battery to get it charged, didn't start. So then I take the starter off and get it tested. it passed its test.

So I put the battery and starter back in and change my suspect battery cables...and I replaced the fusable link that comes out of the main wire harness and goes to the starter solenoid. the only things left from what I can tell are the coil assembly and distributor. Or could my ignition switch be bad up in the steering wheel?
 
Could be the starter contact in the switch, I've replaced my switch a few times. I"ve also had problems with the small wire from the switch where it clips on to the starter, it fires the solenoid that makes the starter work, is it tight.
 
jofj40 said:
Could be the starter contact in the switch, I've replaced my switch a few times. I"ve also had problems with the small wire from the switch where it clips on to the starter, it fires the solenoid that makes the starter work, is it tight.
Click to expand...

by "switch" do you mean the actual keyed switch in the steering column? Is this wire the one that comes out of the harness...goes through a fuse...and to the starter solenoid? If it is this wire...can/should I run a new one from the steering wheel all the way to the starter? The connections are all pretty tight...
 
Yes, the keyed switch. Before running wire remove the cover from your steering column (I'm assuming yours is like mine) the wires are soldered to the switch and exposed when cover is removed. Use a test lite or multi meter to see if current is present at the "s" contact when key is turned to start if not replace the switch.
Back to your orig. post when you say nothing happens when you try to start there is no clicking sound under the hood (solenoid closing)?
 
I tested the keyed switch...and it seems to be working fine... The AMP meter on the dash moves around when I turn it to on. And I tested with a multi meter when I actually turned it to start.

As far as the solenoid...could it be bad even though I took the starter(with solenoid still attached) to get it tested...were they not testing the solenoid as well? Or just the starter motor?

Thanks for all the ideas!
 
OK, now same test but this time connect the meter to the small lead at the solenoid on the starter. Could the store have tested only the starter? Anythings possible.
 
ok...I am beginning to think my system is wired strange...It is puzzling me why it just gave up on me...

I tested the smaller wire that is connected to the starter solenoid. This wire is the one with the fusable link and it comes from a little box that is bolted onto the body. There are no other wires running out of this little box. I got no reading on my micrometer.

So I ran a fresh wire directly from the keyed switch node responsible for ingnition all the way to the starter solenoid. I get nothing. Except that when i touch this new wire, the voltage meter on the dash dances a little bit for me.

I am lost...i am ready to send this puppy to the shop ( any recomendations?) and have a pro look at it.
 
I'm woundering, did you disconect the original wire form the starter solenoid whe you ran the jumper? The box apears to be the maintenance interval detector used on 75 &76's don't remember your year but best I can tell sight unseen your wiring has mutated. I don't see the fusable link involved with the box based on my manual, anyway if this is correct the box may have shorted and be pulling current to ground when switching key to start. I'd offer to come over for a look (should have already, I beg forgivness) but I'm leaving in the morning for Alaska. It may be time to drag her to a wiring pro.
 
William,
I'm back from Alaska, I saw on your sandbar post that you are still not running,
I can take a look at your rig on sat. if you want, just let me know.
 
thanks...that would be awesome.

I can do it anytime except early morning. my band is playing at George street grocery friday night, so I will be sleeping in a little.

you tell me what works for you.

I am at a loss as to what it is...just need help diagnosing the problem. Free beer to anyone who wants to come solve the mystery!!
 
alright! good news...J.O. saved the day and figured out I was missing a vital connection. One that mysteriously disapeared...The line from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid was not present at the solenoid...we ran a fresh wire and she began trying to start..one problem solved keeps meaning I have another come up...

we got the engine to make some noise for us. it is trying to start but now won't turn over. We pulled a spark plug and didn't see a spark when trying to turn over. per J.O.'s recomendation I replaced a wire that runs from the Coil Assembly to the Side of the distributor. And it still doesn't show a spark after I replaced that wire... I guess my next move is a new coil assembly. It has been sitting for a while...and typically is hard to start when it has been sitting...but it is giving me no life..any ideas?


Thanks again J.O. !! This truck would rotting away or not in my possesion if I hadn't found you guys!
 
Last edited:
If it turns out to be the igniter, you may want to eliminate it and the points and go with a Pertronics module. Check the coil first.

Good luck
 
77TLCFJ40 said:
If it turns out to be the igniter, you may want to eliminate it and the points and go with a Pertronics module. Check the coil first.

Good luck
Click to expand...

I saw those Pertonics Kits...looked like a good deal...I guess.

How do you test the Coil? J.O.'s truck doesn't have one so he wasn't sure how they work. Do I take it off the truck? Voltemeter? Remember i am pretty lost here...
 
and I am found...
guess who's runnin...

I had about 15 free minutes today before heading to play golf so i decided to look under the hood. I stared long and hard at the coil, and thought about taking it off...I found a thread explaining how to test it. anyways...i randomly decided to look at these mysterious points inside the distributor that J.O. was telling me about. He showed me how the distributor opens up...something I would not have known how to do... so I opened it up and immediately noticed a small wire was loose inside. It turns out that I had worked that wire loose when replacing the small wire that runs from the Coil to the Distributor. I hooked that little wire up, and wullah she fires right up!

So I took out for a little test run out on the expressway...to see if my fuel pump replacement did any good. I raced all the way up to County Line with no issues...so we'll see...I am gonna take it a little further sometime this week. Hopefully now I get to spend fun money!!! She still has a thick layer of pollen from early spring, so first step will be a good wash...

Thanks for all the help from the crew! :bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom