car won't start, let the frustration begin. now rear wheels stuck Options

[nycchef]

74 2.0 dual weber carbs, fuel pump running, fuel in the lines, pertronix ignition, don't seem to be getting a spsark. disconected the coil wire and held it close , no spark, disconected a spark plug wire at the dizzy, no spark, disconected the plug wire at the plug, held it near the tin, nothing. getiing 12v at the coil. what am i missing?

[nycchef]

Chefie, any new news, i was tempted to give you a call while the server was down.

i tried your idea, put the #1 tdc repositioned the dizzy, looked for a spark, didn't see one (working alone so it.s not easy to see when turning the key), but i did get a cough and a puff of black smoke from the tailpies just as the battery went dead.
as for the wheels not turning i removed the tranny, pulled out the gears....who am i kidding.i put the lug bolts from a set of fuchs onto my steelies, appently longer isn't always better. i am a moron (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[swl]

that;s it exactly. how do i rewire the switch? could it be that this is still the harness from my 1.7 d-jet?

First things first. Measure the voltage at the coil with the key in the start position

at first 6v then it jumped to 10.3v

That confirms that switch is not miswired. It may however be wearing out. One last suggestion. compare that voltage to the voltage at the battery when cranking. 10.3 is low but if it was just your battery wearing down then you have to start looking elsewhere. That "6v then jumped to 10.3" really sounds like a worn switch.

When you did the carb conversion did you retain the relay board> Is the coil wire still going through the board?

[nycchef]

That confirms that switch is not miswired. It may however be wearing out. One last suggestion. compare that voltage to the voltage at the battery when cranking. 10.3 is low but if it was just your battery wearing down then you have to start looking elsewhere. That "6v then jumped to 10.3" really sounds like a worn switch.

When you did the carb conversion did you retain the relay board> Is the coil wire still going through the board?

the switch is new (assuming we are talking about the white plastic switch in the steering column) it worked fine last summer, the battery is definately low, will recharge this weekend, when i installed the 2.0 carbed engine i did not change the harness or relay board from my 1.7 d-jet. coil wire is goin thru the board

[Katmanken]

Here ya go..

We went through this problem not too long ago....

No Spark thread

You need to charge that battery. You need to see 12 volts at the coil with the ignition switch turned on. Don't leave it on very long.

Ken

[nycchef]

Here ya go..

We went through this problem not too long ago....

No Spark thread

You need to charge that battery. You need to see 12 volts at the coil with the ignition switch turned on. Don't leave it on very long.

Ken

i read that thread , problem there was points, i'm running petronix. here is my plan
charge the battery, disconnect the ignitiion switch, run a wire strait from the battery to the coil, check the voltage at the coil (is the correct way positive lead from the meter to +. negative lead to- or to tin?) then just try and start it with starter fluid bad plan? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

[nycchef]

Hey Ritchie,
Sorry I didn't call tonight. Just got home. I think I have an extra dizzy with points as a backup. Did you fry the Petronics unit. I hear if you leave the ign key on for more than 5 secs you can damage the petronics. Let me know if you want to get together this weekend your only 15 minutes away from me. Gotta love that $10 toll for the Verrazano Bridge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

i'm pretty sure the petronix is good. would'nt mind some help this weekend, i'll call you tomorrow. i should be off sun and monday, let bobby flay handle the enchiladas (by the way we hate each other) maybe get some of the jersey bums to come by . have some burgers and beer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)
if you like bring the family and the lab. he can swim in the pool i have an 11 year old

[Katmanken]

A quick check is use the igniton switch and measure at the coil while the engine is cranking. When the engine is turning over, you should see a steady 12v on the + side of the coil. On the other side of the coil (connected to the distributor), you should see the voltage alternate from 12v to 0, 12v to 0 as the pertronix (or points) open and close. If you don't get the alternating voltage on the distributor side of the coil, I'd look at the pertronix and/or condenser and/or ground wire in the dizzy as the failing items. If you do get the above, the problem is elsewhere- say at the switch or the wiring coming from the switch.

Or, you can use an idiot light whuch might work better with a single operator. Clamp the wire on one side of the coil, route the wire over the rollbar and touch the probe of the light to a ground point on the body. Crank the engine ad look for the flashing light. No light, check the dizzy.

Be careful with the pertronix, they are finicky.

Do you have points and a condenser as a backup in case you need to check the pertronix (by replacement)???

[swl]

here is my plan
charge the battery, disconnect the ignitiion switch, run a wire strait from the battery to the coil, check the voltage at the coil (is the correct way positive lead from the meter to +. negative lead to- or to tin?) then just try and start it with starter fluid bad plan? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

Actually sounds reasonable to me. 'cept for the starter fluid bit. Leave that alone for a while until you know you have spark. In theory you should not have to disconnect the ignition switch. To be safe maybe remove the wiring harness lead to the coil and just have the 12v going to the coil.

The pertronics will fry itself if the key is left on (or that hot wire is attached) without the car running or cranking. Get a buddy to help. Have him crank while you hook up the hot wire. Better yet get the points back in till you figure this thing out.

I found it easier to look for spark by pulling the lead off and hooking it up to a spark plug. Touch the sparkplug to ground and look for spark. I'm a sissy so I wear thick leather gloves when I do that.

[nycchef]

[quote name='swl' date='May 22 2009, 05:41 PM' post='1171999']
[quote name='nycchef' post='1171646' date='May 21 2009, 07:41 PM']
Actually sounds reasonable to me. 'cept for the starter fluid bit. Leave that alone for a while until you know you have spark. In theory you should not have to disconnect the ignition switch. To be safe maybe remove the wiring harness lead to the coil and just have the 12v going to the coil.

The pertronics will fry itself if the key is left on (or that hot wire is attached) without the car running or cranking. Get a buddy to help. Have him crank while you hook up the hot wire. Better yet get the points back in till you figure this thing out.

I found it easier to look for spark by pulling the lead off and hooking it up to a spark plug. Touch the sparkplug to ground and look for spark. I'm a sissy so I wear thick leather gloves when I do that.
[/quote]
thats kinda what i meant. remove the wire from the harness to the coil, attach a wire to the pos. touch to the pos on battery, car should crank. wire off battery car will stop crancking...yes
although leaving out the starter fluid takes some of the fun out of the process. no spray=no explosion=no insurance =no 911 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[swl]

thats kinda what i meant. remove the wire from the harness to the coil, attach a wire to the pos. touch to the pos on battery, car should crank. wire off battery car will stop crancking...yes
although leaving out the starter fluid takes some of the fun out of the process. no spray=no explosion=no insurance =no 911 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

lol - sorry - I'm old - don't feel the need for that kind of excitement any more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Not quite on the cranking thing. Separate circuit for the starter.

[nycchef]

problem solved, engine is actually running. i want to thank everyone for their help and patience, and especially scott (esses62) for coming out this morning and getting it running. his extensive knowledge of the 914 and my uncanny ability to turn the key upon command made us a great team. scott thanks again anything you need i am there
now to tune the carbs. bleed the brakes, adjust the clutch, well i think it's safe to assume there will be more posts
thanks all
rich (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[Katmanken]

So what was it?

Gonna leave us hanging????

[nycchef]

[quote name='kwales' date='May 25 2009, 09:56 AM' post='1172750']
So what was it?

Gonna leave us hanging????
[/quotewish i knew, at first wrong wiring, then dizzy off 180 degrees, possibly fried petronix, timing off, weak battery. scott would know better than me , i just turned the key

[swl]

But I'm sure you did a fine job of turning that key! lol

Have fun. The ability to make it go vroom vroom is a great moral booster.

Atta boy Scott!

[type11969]

Nice, glad to hear it is working

[Dr Evil]

Hey Man,
I will have to come over after the 5th sometime when I become free (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I am glad Scott was there to help you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[nycchef]

Hey Man,
I will have to come over after the 5th sometime when I become free (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I am glad Scott was there to help you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

doc you coming up here? that would be great. bring dark clothing , maybe we can kidnap leo off long island for a day. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[Katmanken]

YEAAAAYYY!!!

No starty can be very troubling.

I always get reallly weird problems or layers of problems that don't follow the rules.

Last month's one was the 1969-1970 vintatge mower where I went through the entire electrical system of points, plug, spark wire, condenser, coil, voltage regulator, ignition switch, wiring harness, solenoid, battery and starter/generator....

Problem was twofold. Bad battery and a subtle thing inside the starter/generator where a small piece of insulation had disintegrated. The battery and insulation issue prevented the starter from spinning the motor fast enough to untrigger the compression release... A piece of electrical tape to replace the insulation, a new battery, and it finally spun fast enough to start.......