Pls help w/ Ignition problem on 65 BB

[Ken Seddon - 25329]

Hello wise readers. I need help. My 65 BB doesn't have spark. The car was idling when it overheated. She dumped lots of water and steam into the engine compartment. I let the car cool and it started just fine 2 hours later. I let it runs for about 30 seconds. Two weeks later I can't get her restarted. I've already taken the coil and the TI box and put them into another car which started fine with those components. When I turn the key to on, I get Zero volts across the coil terminals. When I try to start it, the engine cranks and I smell gas after a while. I'm just not getting spark. The interior lights work fine and the starter is cranking. Any advice on how to diagnosis this? Anybody got a schematic of the ingition wiring? I thank you in advance for your help. Best regards. Ken

[Joe C.]

Re: Pls help w/ Ignition problem on 65 BB

Try cleaning the terminals on the firewall connectors. The steam may have accelerated any corrosion already festering in there. I think that you'll find the culprit to be the solenoid wire from the ign switch to the S terminal of the starter.....purple.

Joe

[Albert P.]

Re: Pls help w/ Ignition problem on 65 BB

Is there a ballast resistor in the starter circuit? If so,TEMPORARILY jumper across it, see if starts.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Pls help w/ Ignition problem on 65 BB

Ken,

I would start by making sure the ground in the TI harness at the amplifier and core support is good. I am not sure on 65 but does the amplifier bolt directly to the core support, if so that is your ground. With the ignition on you can also check with a test light to see if there is power at the TI harness connection to the ignition switch pink wire, this will tell you where to look to further narrow the problem.

[Joe C.]

Re: Pls help w/ Ignition problem on 65 BB

Disregard. I was thinking starter problem. If you have a spark problem, I would go after the distributor , breaker plate ground wire.

Joe

[Philip C.]

First disregard all the above

its very hard to trouble shoot from a PC, Since you ruled out the dist. and amp and the inside power, Start with power from the key, the connector from the key to the trans. harness is a good place to start. no power search back with power search forward. Phil 8063

[George C.]

Re: First disregard all the above

I agree with the post about the distributor. I had a similar issue with my standard ignition small block a couple weeks ago, it was the condensor. Also the suggestion about the balast resistor if you have one on that application.
Just keep testing things and posting results, the folks on this site will help work through the process.
Check my posts under the subject; electrical gremlin, lots of good advice there.

George

[Mike Hom]

Re: First disregard all the above

Did you try calling Dave Fiedler? I had a problem with the TI on my L-78 a couple years back. Called Dave, and he walked me through the troubleshooting process over the phone. About 10 minutes later, we found the culprit (and I ordered the part from him). A real gentleman and extremely knowledgeable of the TI systems on our cars. I would highly recommend calling him.