HELP. trouble starting 72 1.7L Options

[forzamotorsport9]

ok so i installed my tangerine racing tunnel and engine compartment lines no problem there, installed a 34R Optima Red-Top, a little big but oh well, went to turn it over, wouldnt turn over. i looked and coming off of the coil is a green wire attached to nothing, i think its a ground. where does this thing go.

any ideas on getting it started and where that ground needs to go. i would figure the engine case but i tried holding it there and pulled out a spark plug and hooked back to the wire to see if it would start and got nothing, i then grounded it to a bolt connecting the tin cover (i think?) to the head and the continuity tester said the circuit was ok so im guessing something has to be wrong with the ignition system, either the coil or distributor, which i THINK is newer and uses the magnetic thing to adjust dwell, which i loosly understand the concept of. also, could it just be the spark plug? it didnt look fouled or anything but i couldnt see a visable spark when having someone try to start the car and it wouldnt gap to the engine case either, so idk whats up

im only 18 and a senior in high school so a lot of this is new to me, ive read about it in magazines but never this deep, nor got my hands dirty (i have now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) )

i just wanna see the damn thing run, for only having 47,259 miles on the clock it shouldnt be too big of a deal to fix.

i included a picture of what it looked like with just a basic clean too, no detailing or anything, not bad for being 38 (i think?) years old!)

i trust the ppl on this site too, so if anybody want my phone number just shoot me a pm and id be more than happy to discuss it on the phone.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

note: the green wire in the one pic is the one i grounded. it was just sticking up like in the picture before i grounded it

[forzamotorsport9]

edit: forgive my god awful grammar there, i swear i am literate (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[914_teener]

I am sure Rich will chime in here but..... Starter won't turn or won't start.... two different things.... need more info to help (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[forzamotorsport9]

good, i need all the help i can, and im not stubborn and welcome the help too, im curious to learn lol. and im pretty sure the starter works, it cranks but wont turn over and start is the best way to explain it

[Dave_Darling]

Trace that green wire. I'm thinking that it goes to the distributor. If so, it's the "signal" from the points to trigger the coil to make a spark. It should get plugged in to the (-) terminal on the coil.

The other green wire in the area has a red stripe, and is for the oil pressure warning light. That wire just goes into the engine harness.

--DD

[silverteener]

You've got to be kidding me! another teener in my town! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) And I have a 72 1.7 but mine is a much faster color, Silver! I can take a look tonight when I get home.

[forzamotorsport9]

You've got to be kidding me! another teener in my town! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) And I have a 72 1.7 but mine is a much faster color, Silver! I can take a look tonight when I get home.

NO FREAKIN WAY! dude thats crazy where do you live in east mo i have relatives over there!!! sounds good to me.

Trace that green wire. I'm thinking that it goes to the distributor. If so, it's the "signal" from the points to trigger the coil to make a spark. It should get plugged in to the (-) terminal on the coil.

The other green wire in the area has a red stripe, and is for the oil pressure warning light. That wire just goes into the engine harness.

--DD

and that wire is already connected to the negetive lead on the coil, so what you are saying is it goes back to the distributor? i though it was a ground of somesort

[r_towle]

Hi,

In the original ignition system the lead goes from the ignition points in the distributor to the negative side of the coil. Its a green wire.
Typically it also has a condensor as part of the circuit.

Now, if you are using a petronix or crane optical sensor in the distributor, you may need to wire this differently of the sensor may become damaged...if its not already from messing with it.

Open up the distributor cover and look either post a picture of the insides, or tell us what make of sensor you have.
From there you will need a wiring diagram (on the vendor wed site) of how to properly hook up the optical sensor.

You can verify that its working with a timing light just to see if you have a spark on any wire..

Rich

[forzamotorsport9]

Hi,

In the original ignition system the lead goes from the ignition points in the distributor to the negative side of the coil. Its a green wire.
Typically it also has a condensor as part of the circuit.

Now, if you are using a petronix or crane optical sensor in the distributor, you may need to wire this differently of the sensor may become damaged...if its not already from messing with it.

Open up the distributor cover and look either post a picture of the insides, or tell us what make of sensor you have.
From there you will need a wiring diagram (on the vendor wed site) of how to properly hook up the optical sensor.

You can verify that its working with a timing light just to see if you have a spark on any wire..

Rich

so dont hook up the green wire yet?

[r_towle]

take the distributor cover off.
take a pic of the insides of the distributor and post it here.

OR
If you see a name on the optical sensor (if you have one) go look on their web site for wiring instructions.
If you wire an optical sensor wrong, it will immediately die.....for good.

If you have points, its simple to wire them up.

RIch

[914_teener]

take the distributor cover off.
take a pic of the insides of the distributor and post it here.

OR
If you see a name on the optical sensor (if you have one) go look on their web site for wiring instructions.
If you wire an optical sensor wrong, it will immediately die.....for good.

If you have points, its simple to wire them up.

RIch

Hmmm... I can see what you see Rich? No ECU in the stock location?

So what ignition is he running....? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[r_towle]

good question...I did not see that.
I wasnt looking either...nice spot.
Rich

[forzamotorsport9]

take the distributor cover off.
take a pic of the insides of the distributor and post it here.

OR
If you see a name on the optical sensor (if you have one) go look on their web site for wiring instructions.
If you wire an optical sensor wrong, it will immediately die.....for good.

If you have points, its simple to wire them up.

RIch

will do

[silverteener]

I just looked at mine and I have no green wire on the coil. I have petronix in mine though. no points or condenser. The green wire should not be a ground. did it start before? What have you done to it since then?

[forzamotorsport9]

ok i took the distributor cap of and its the kind that has the four points i think...the points are on top of the distributor cap right? they arnt visable from the outside but if you look inside the on the top there are four points, if that helps, they are copper i believe? could be wrong...direct me from here.



what other things should i check btw if its not running? ill take a video of the car engine bay when i try the motor tries to turn over once i get eveything back together

im starting to get pissed off....all it was supposed to need to fix the fuel leak, which has been done

[Socalandy]

from the distrib. to the coil. In your first photo I see the crimped connector and look like it would drop right on the coil as seen in my picture.

This is before I did my resto, Stock 1.8 FI setup and I have electronic now and the green wire is no longer present.

[forzamotorsport9]

I just looked at mine and I have no green wire on the coil. I have petronix in mine though. no points or condenser. The green wire should not be a ground. did it start before? What have you done to it since then?

sorry for the double post here but its a really big gauge wire that is attatched to where the coil mounts to the engine case, the other green wire is there, next to the green and red wire where it belongs.

i just wanna get the damn thing to start, i bought it like this and havent gotten a chance to even hear the thing run, let alone drive it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[silverteener]

might be a stupid question but are you getting fuel? do you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the key on?

[Cire]

might be a stupid question but are you getting fuel? do you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the key on?

Did we pull a spark plug, leave it connected to the wire, ground the tip of it and see if we are getting a spark that far? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)


Eric

[forzamotorsport9]

i need to check to see if im getting fuel, should i listen to for the pump when the ignition if turned on or when you try to turn it over? and what sort of a noise should i be looking for.

and no i will as soon as my little brother can come outside and turn it over while i check to see if the spark jumps. if it doesnt what should i do, i have a feeling it wont work lol.

im going to video the motor when i try to turn it over and post it up here so i can get the best diagnosis