Ok i am stumped on this one. Vehicle has ran great since purchased 8 months ago. Breaks went bad so vehicle sat for 2 weeks while i replaced rear wheel cylinders and the mc. went to start it to check break the breaks. No start. wouldnt turn over. replaced coil still nothing. Broke the negative terminal on the starter so i replaced starter 'solenoid and all came toghether" now it will turn over but just wont start. replaced plugs, plug wires, and points, rotor and cap look good. oh and i replaced the ballast resistor. i did notice that when returning the key back to on position the moter turns over again if i leave it. Are my wires crossed? Bad igniter? ill post pics if needed. any help will be much appreciated. or pics of where all the wires for the coil go. I cant seem to find any that look like my set up.
Ignition troubless 77 fj55
- Thread starter Jake77fj55
- Start date
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Did you check for power on the coil?
If there is power with ignition on chech for power while starting.
If there is power with ignition on chech for power while starting.
Don't take this the wrong way, but the first thing that you need to do is to stop replacing things and start diagnosing. If your engine won't turn over, it's not the coil. If an engine ran great two weeks ago and now it won't start, it's not the plugs or wires, and probably not the points or rotor, etc.
Now that it wont start, it could be something simple or it could be one of the many things that you changed.
Start with basics, is it lack of fuel or lack of spark? Spray a little starting fluid in the carb ( or a little gas) and try it. If it tries to catch now, then it's probably lack of fuel.
If it's lack of spark, I would start with the things that you changed (since it ran well before). How did you install the points and set the dwell when it isn't running? Are you sure that you did that right? What about the wiring of the coil and ballast resistor? Are you confident that you wired those up right? If not, post up some pictures or a diagram of how you have it wired.
Now that it wont start, it could be something simple or it could be one of the many things that you changed.
Start with basics, is it lack of fuel or lack of spark? Spray a little starting fluid in the carb ( or a little gas) and try it. If it tries to catch now, then it's probably lack of fuel.
If it's lack of spark, I would start with the things that you changed (since it ran well before). How did you install the points and set the dwell when it isn't running? Are you sure that you did that right? What about the wiring of the coil and ballast resistor? Are you confident that you wired those up right? If not, post up some pictures or a diagram of how you have it wired.
- Thread starter
- #4
well i tried to post pics but either im doing it wrong or it doesnt let me.....still trouble shooting.
- Thread starter
- #5
yes edwjmcgrath,
i needed to replace it all anyway. i went by the book on the points so i dont think that is an issue. the wiring to the coil and there is one spot on the distributor im not 100% sure due to all the cut wires by former owner, but like i said. it ran great 2 weeks ago. hoping someone had pics of the 77 setup because i think they switched to 78 halfway through the 77 yr. still working on posting the pics
i needed to replace it all anyway. i went by the book on the points so i dont think that is an issue. the wiring to the coil and there is one spot on the distributor im not 100% sure due to all the cut wires by former owner, but like i said. it ran great 2 weeks ago. hoping someone had pics of the 77 setup because i think they switched to 78 halfway through the 77 yr. still working on posting the pics
Jake, I understand the desire to replace stuff that needs it anyway, but doing it when your vehicle won't start just makes it more complicated. The first time I replaced points (a LONG time ago), I did it by the book but did it wrong. Since that was the only thing that was changed, it was easy for me to figure out what the problem was. (I set the point gap when the cam lobe was not at its peak.)
Here's a 78 wiring diagram. Note that ST and ACC are wrong-they are reversed.
Here's a 78 wiring diagram. Note that ST and ACC are wrong-they are reversed.
First thing to do is check for a spark on the center wire to the distributor cap when the engine is cranking.
If there is none, turn the engine until the points are open, turn the ignition switch to ON and then short between the points with a screwdriver and check for a spark.
Report back results.
If there is none, turn the engine until the points are open, turn the ignition switch to ON and then short between the points with a screwdriver and check for a spark.
Report back results.
