Mopar Ignition
#1
Mopar Ignition
Ok Im at it again. I have a 67 Coronet with a 340. I have not been able to get it started. I have spark at the coil but not at the plugs. I have swapped out the ballast resistor, starter relay, ecu, coil, pickup coil, cap and rotor, plus ohmed out the ignition switch. The distributor setup I have in it is the Mopar Performance P3690430 Vacuum Adv Electronic Dist. I only have 6.33 volts on the positive side of the coil with the key on, is this enough? 12.43 on one side of ballast and 6.33 on the other. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am going to get a new reluctor tomorrow.
Thanks
Thanks
#4
Mopar Lover
texas -
At the risk of being a $m@rt@$$, how's the coil wire (to the distributor) ... or its connectors?
Check the dist. end of the coil wire, if that's getting a spark, has to be in the car/rotor.
Archer
At the risk of being a $m@rt@$$, how's the coil wire (to the distributor) ... or its connectors?
Check the dist. end of the coil wire, if that's getting a spark, has to be in the car/rotor.
Archer
#5
Im open to all suggestion's. I have placed a spark tester between the coil and the cap. I do get a spark. When I gapped the reluctor I did use a steel feeler gauge, could that have messed something up.
#6
I like that Archer
But any who, if you have spark at the coil wire (wire end checked at the end that plugs into the distributor cap) then I would go back and double check for spark at the plugs. Use a extra plug one that is not installed in the engine, ground to motor block, crank engine and look real close. BTW your suppose to use a brass feller gauge to gap reluctor but if you say you got spark at the coil wire something has to work.
But any who, if you have spark at the coil wire (wire end checked at the end that plugs into the distributor cap) then I would go back and double check for spark at the plugs. Use a extra plug one that is not installed in the engine, ground to motor block, crank engine and look real close. BTW your suppose to use a brass feller gauge to gap reluctor but if you say you got spark at the coil wire something has to work.
#9
Yes sir, thats whats so strange. I have spark at the coil wire. but nothing at the plugs (checked multiple plugs) figured it was cap or rotor I replaced them and still no spark. Earlier I stated I used a steel feeler guage to gap the reluctor at .008 could that have caused a problem somewhere? I really appreciate everyones help.
#12
The rotor has to be turning unless not mounted all the way on the shaft, by the making and breaking of the field in the coil this is how the spark is created. and the making and breaking is being made thru the reluctor passing thru a magnetic field (contact points opening and closing, old style) Texas, assuming everything here is accurate it has to be rotor, cap, wires or plugs now maybe the rotor aint turning on the end of the distributor shaft for some reason although I never heard of this, try slightly bending the brass end that sits under the center terminal of the cap, make sure that is a good connection.
#14
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Certainly not from experience but.....
I don't think your ballast resistor should be dropping 6 volts ie.. 12 in and 6 out. When I bought my truck the ballast resistor was wired wrong and essentially was not in the circuit at all. The engine ran good but the ignition coil got really hot and would fail.
Like I say I may be wrong but it seems to me the ballast resistor would be "current limiting" in this circuit. There will always be some voltage drop acrossed any resistor but I don't 'think' it should be by half.
I will stop short of suggesting jumping the resistor out, but you may want to try replacing it or at the very least find out what the ohm reading should be, and test it.
I will test mine tonight and let you know what it reads.
Good Luck.
Joe.
I don't think your ballast resistor should be dropping 6 volts ie.. 12 in and 6 out. When I bought my truck the ballast resistor was wired wrong and essentially was not in the circuit at all. The engine ran good but the ignition coil got really hot and would fail.
Like I say I may be wrong but it seems to me the ballast resistor would be "current limiting" in this circuit. There will always be some voltage drop acrossed any resistor but I don't 'think' it should be by half.
I will stop short of suggesting jumping the resistor out, but you may want to try replacing it or at the very least find out what the ohm reading should be, and test it.
I will test mine tonight and let you know what it reads.
Good Luck.
Joe.
#15
Your ballast resister, if wired correctly, is bypassed during cranking and starting. Remember you did say there was spark at the coil center terminal but if only six volts are at the coil with the ignition turned on I would look for a bad connection somewhere between ignition switch and coil. You could always bypass the ignition and run straight power to the positive side of the coil while cranking (this is one way to hot wire a car by the way) do this with the ignition switch in the run position if the car starts you probably got some bad wiring.
#17
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The rotor has to be turning unless not mounted all the way on the shaft, by the making and breaking of the field in the coil this is how the spark is created. and the making and breaking is being made thru the reluctor passing thru a magnetic field (contact points opening and closing, old style) Texas, assuming everything here is accurate it has to be rotor, cap, wires or plugs now maybe the rotor aint turning on the end of the distributor shaft for some reason although I never heard of this, try slightly bending the brass end that sits under the center terminal of the cap, make sure that is a good connection.
Hey Texas, are you running 2 pin or 4 pin resistor ? Also are you running the orange or chrome box ?
Last edited by Polaradude; 05-26-2010 at 01:56 PM.
#18
Not sure what shear pin your thinking unless your thinking a split distributor shat and if so the upper half which the rotor sits on would also contain the reluctor (if HEI) or breaker points (if not). I thought i read some where in this post it was HEI but cant find it now but the principle is the same. If it is HEI it would be a four terminal resister, if contact points it would be a 2 terminal resistor.
#20
2 pin ballast and the orange box. I have a spare from Napa also which is blue.
#21
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I measured 1.4 ohms (resistance) through my ballast resistor. I am not sure if this is a good reading other than I don't seem to have any trouble in this area. The measurement was taken with no wires attached to the resistor.
Good luck.
Joe.
Good luck.
Joe.
#23
Reluctor gap
Brass is recomended because of the magnatic "pull" will give you a false feel. Plastic may also be used. You should have 7-8 volts at the coil. The resistance of the ballast must be matched to the coil being used. Is your coil wire good?
Check the link for info on coil and ballast. I have trouble shooting link also if you need it.
http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/electronic.html
Check the link for info on coil and ballast. I have trouble shooting link also if you need it.
http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/electronic.html
#26
A.K.A Bob Dodge
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