Help! Car won't start after dist swap

[Jack O.]

I'm stumped and really need help. I swap out a distributor and can't get the car to fire at all now. It ran fine before the swap. It's a standard points distributor that I replaced and I've verified that I have spark at all the cylinders. I've done everything I know to be sure it's firing at TDC on #1: used a piston stop tool and also used a whistle to indicate. Darn thing doesn't even give a hint of starting. I've even used a timing light while turning over the engine to verify that it's firing at TDC. It's getting fuel too. I've also slowly moved the distributor around while turning over the engine. What else could it be if I'm getting spark and fuel? Thanks for any help. I pulled a distributor many times before and never had a problem.

Jack Ottofaro

[William C.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Have you checked to see if it is getting fuel? Also, have you actually set the timing with a light, and verified you are not off by 190 degrees?

[Roy B.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

BELLISTER
Jump a wire from the battery positive side to the coil side that is not connected to the dist.

[Roy B.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Sorry I mean to say that will by pass the ballister if it burnd out. Because you will get spark turning the engine over but won't start.

[Jack O.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

great idea, i'll try that. thanks!

[Jack O.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

yep. i verified it's getting fuel and did check it with a timing light. thanks

[Roy S.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

As Bill said this may sound really stupid but it is very easy to get a car 180 out when replacing a distributor, it could be firing on the exhaust up stroke rater than the compression up stroke. Top dead center is the same location for the exhaust stroke as it is for the compression stroke, granted the whistle should have been silent but hey, if it does not start I would check it. If it tries to fire through an opem intake you will know it.

[Roy S.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

A timing lights flashing at what appears to be top dead center on compression can be flashing at the same point and be top dead center on exhaust

[Bob R.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

I know this will sound pretty basic but you might want to double check the firing order and make sure the wires are in correctly. I once installed the wires backwards with similar results.

[Jim T.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Jack the new distributor you installed, check to see that the dimple mark on the distributor gear lines up with the with the rotor point. This alignment problem has happened before as well as even putting the gear on upside down.

[Joseph S.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Jack, Let's start at the beginning. You only changed 1 thing, correct? So lets rule out all the working parts you haven't changed. Have you tried reinstalling your working distributor? I would try that. Also here is a tip that is a surefire way to check for positive top dead center. Remove your drivers side valve cover. Now rotate the engine until you see the intake valve open and begin to close. Slowly contine to rotate the engine until the next time the timing mark is aligned with 0 degrees. This is positively top dead center. Reinstall your distributor at this time with the rotor pointing to cylinder #1, and I mean physically the cylinder not what you think is the #1 position on the cap. Now replace the cap and reinstall your plug wires starting with #1. In 25 years I have never had an engine not fire the first time using this method. Good luck. Joe

[Clem Z.]

quick way to find TDC compression stroke

take out # 1 plug,place finger over plug hole,bump engine till you fell compression on your finger,turn the engine with a wrench to about 10 degrees before TDC and drop in the distributor with the rotor pointing to # 1 cylinder. mark the distribtor housing at the # 1 plug wire location before removing the cap.

[Rob A.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Check the gap of the points, it won't start if they are far enough off. I had this happen once, same thing. I didn't mark the position of the rotor when I removed the distributor since I figured I would put it back per the manual. I re-installed it with the rotor in the position shown in the manual, pointing at the #1 plug wire terminal (with #1 piston TDC) and it wouldn't start. Finally had to install the distributor slightly off from the position shown in the manual and it started right up. Mark the rotor position as accurately as possible, then drop it back in slightly off in one direction and then the other.

[Joe C.]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Jack:

Normally, during crank/start mode, the ballast resistor is bypassed anyway, and you will have full battery voltage applied to the distributor. Normally, in "run" mode, your ignition is routed thru the ballast. If the engine won't fire, then it is not the ballast. If it fires, then dies when you disengage the starter, then it is a bad ballast.

Joe

[Larry Clain]

Re: Help! Car won't start after dist swap

Have you checked the plugs they may be fuel fouled and or Check the dwell and also try changing the points and condenser back to the old ones.