123Ignition Problem, No spark - Is it my wires? Options

[clapeza]

I've installed the 123Ignition distributor in my 1970 1.7 Djet, but I've got no spark. My car was running well enough before. I bought the Djet friendly distributor (4-R-V-IE) and a new Bosch Blue Coil during the group buy, but kept my (not so) old spark plug wires. When cranking, I get no attempt to start. I checked for spark by clipping my timing light lead on the #1 wire, but get no flash, suggesting no spark.

I installed the distributor per the instructions and the helpful hints from the group buy thread. Left the black wire off the coil to set the static timing. I saw the timing LED through one of the slots, as expected. I rotated it until it went off, then back until it just went on.

While rotating it, I got a mechanical solenoid sound ("BZZZzztt") from inside the distributor that lasted a second at most. No one has mentioned this previously, so I thought I would to make sure it's what everyone else has seen.

Connected the black wire to the coil, then attempted to crank it. All the usual noises are there for any attempted ignition, except no sounds like it's trying to fire. No catch, no backfire, etc.

My spark plug wires are Bosch Ultra-Premium 7mm Opti-Layer Copper Core. They're not that old, and are still in good shape. I've checked the boots and the connectors, making sure they're making good contact inside the cap. I know there was the option to buy new wires from 123Ignition, but I kept the old ones since they are in good shape; but are they not up to snuff for this distributor?

[914_teener]

That's interesting. I didn't bother using that portion (the LED light) of the dizzy to set static timing. Since I just replaced the dizzy in the same place, I just left the clamp a little loose and hooked all the electrical up and used a timing light to dial it in.

You are either getting spark or you aren't. Disconnect one of the leads, have somebody crank the engine and either ground a spare spark plug to the lead and make sure it is grounded or insert an appropriate sized screw driver into the lead to ground to see if there is spark.

If you heard the thing sizzle that is not good. Didn't hear anything like that when I installed it. It fired right up.

Good luck, I'd call the Manuf. for sure.