Another No Start Situation

[Perry M.]

My 63 always started and ran perfectly. I pulled it into the garage and parked it for a month or so. Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest so I decided to go for a drive. After cranking for awhile, it would not start ( it's an L84 Fuelie ). It has gas so I then checked for spark. I pulled the coil wire from the dist. and placed it 1/4'' from a ground point. I cranked the engine and found no spark. Did my 091 coil die while it sat idle? I turned the ignition switch to the on position and checked voltage at the + terminal of the coil and had full battery power. It also had full battery power at the - terminal. Is that correct? What other tests could I perform to pinpoint the problem? Suggestions please.

[Peter H.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Hello Perry. Is It Possible The Points Are Not Opening Just A Thought
Peter. Fellow 63 Owner

[Mark E.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

You have power to the primary winding of the coil but no spark from the secondary winding. This could be a bad coil, points, condenser or wiring between these three parts.

Check the dwell with the engine cranking; adjust for 30 degrees. Zero or infinite dwell indicates a problem in the primary circuit (points, condenser, related wiring). Make sure the ground wire for the breaker plate is secure.

Test the coil by checking resistance for the primary and secondary windings. Primary: Measure resistance between the small + and - terminals. Secondary: Measure resistance between the small + and the connector for the lead that goes to the distributor cap. Specs are in your service manual.

[Frank D.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Just for grins run a jumper from the + battery terminal to the + ignition coil terminal and try cranking the engine again; if it starts don't run it long this way - report results.

[Jim L.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

My 63 always started and ran perfectly. I pulled it into the garage and parked it for a month or so. Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest so I decided to go for a drive. After cranking for awhile, it would not start ( it's an L84 Fuelie ). It has gas so I then checked for spark. I pulled the coil wire from the dist. and placed it 1/4'' from a ground point. I cranked the engine and found no spark. Did my 091 coil die while it sat idle? I turned the ignition switch to the on position and checked voltage at the + terminal of the coil and had full battery power. It also had full battery power at the - terminal. Is that correct? What other tests could I perform to pinpoint the problem? Suggestions please.

The test you did shows there is power to the ignition but it did not indicate whether or not the points are opening and closing.

Mark's suggestion to connect a dwell meter and crank the engine is a good way to test the points function.

If you don't have a dwell meter, touch a test light to the (-) coil terminal, ground the lead from the test light, and crank the engine. The light should blink in time with points activity.

If you can confirm the points are working, then you might try substituting a known-good coil and attempt starting the engine.

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

I should confess that I switched to a Pertronics unit about 15 years ago so no points involved. My research of past threads told me that The positive post of the coil should have 12 volts but the negative post should be 9 volts with the ignition switch in the ON position. Is that correct? I have 12+ volts at both posts.

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

I am going to buy a coil tomorrow. What is a good choice for a temporary replacement until I can get a loan from the bank to purchase a 091 coil?

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Just for grins run a jumper from the + battery terminal to the + ignition coil terminal and try cranking the engine again; if it starts don't run it long this way - report results.

Didn't make any difference. Still no start or spark.

[Jim L.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

I should confess that I switched to a Pertronics unit about 15 years ago so no points involved. My research of past threads told me that The positive post of the coil should have 12 volts but the negative post should be 9 volts with the ignition switch in the ON position. Is that correct? I have 12+ volts at both posts.

Only sorta and then only maybe.

Points or Pertronix, your test light on coil (-) should still flash while the engine is cranking.

With a Pertronix ignition, it's anybody's guess what the (-) terminal should show when the engine is not rotating. It depends entirely on the design of the Pertronix.

As to a coil, go to NAPA and pick up an Echlin IC-12.

[Jim L.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Didn't make any difference. Still no start or spark.

Not a surprise here. You already measured 12V at the coil.

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

I used the dwell function on my timing light but it showed 00 dwell. I will use a test light next.

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

[QUOTE=Jim Lockwood (2750);901415]Only sorta and then only maybe.

Points or Pertronix, your test light on coil (-) should still flash while the engine is cranking.

I guess I already performed the test light test when I hooked up my induction timing light and got no flashes. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Jim L.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Only sorta and then only maybe.

Points or Pertronix, your test light on coil (-) should still flash while the engine is cranking.

I guess I already performed the test light test when I hooked up my induction timing light and got no flashes. Thanks for all the suggestions.

No. Your timing light just told you that the ignition system as a whole was inoperative but not specifically what has failed.

If you put a test light on the coil (-) and the light glows steady and never flashes while cranking, your Pertronix is FUBAR.

If the test light does flash and yet you have no spark, the coil could be bad.

[Perry M.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

No. Your timing light just told you that the ignition system as a whole was inoperative but not specifically what has failed.

If you put a test light on the coil (-) and the light glows steady and never flashes while cranking, your Pertronix is FUBAR.

If the test light does flash and yet you have no spark, the coil could be bad.

Well, I guess my Pertronix went FUBAR. The test light seemed to get dim but did not flash. It's decision time. Do I go back to points or get a new Pertronix unit?

[Jim L.]

Re: Another No Start Situation

Well, I guess my Pertronix went FUBAR. The test light seemed to get dim but did not flash. It's decision time. Do I go back to points or get a new Pertronix unit?

Well, your call.

Lots of people swear by Pertronix systems. I've had reason to swear at them.

The only two Pertronix experiences I've had ended badly. Oddly, and not that there is a connection, both were on fuelies. Go figgur.

I've always run points, even in the two track cars of my bride and myself. They have performed flawlessly for me.

Too, points ignition generally will fail soft.... that is you sense degradation before a compleat failure happens. Electronics, which generally should be more reliable than a mechanical triggering mechanism (if it's well engineered) tends to fail without warning. I appreciate that little bit of a "heads up" warning points offer and since they seldom require maintenance, I've stuck with them.

But it's your call....