15 replies to this topic

[Emo Elmo]

hi

model: dont know
Year: 1980

problem: it's been sitting in a paddok for a while and does not go, i have replaced the points and condenser, there is electricity going thro the points and going to the coil but the electricitry does not get to the spark plugs, the spark plug leads are fine(i tested them with a multimeter). is it possibly the distributor cap that is the problem?

any help is VERY much appreciated.

thanks

Edited by Emo Elmo, 10 January 2009 - 09:44 AM.

[duncancallum]

do you have a spark at the coil then? if so try a rotor and cap

[Zacherius]

hi

model: dont know
Year: 1980

problem: it's been sitting in a paddok for a while and does not go, i have replaced the points and condenser, there is electricity going thro the points and going to the coil but the electricitry does not get to the spark plugs, the spark plug leads are fine(i tested them with a multimeter). is it possibly the distributor cap that is the problem?

any help is VERY much appreciated.

thanks

Am I wrong but doesn't power go the other way, from the coil to the cap, then via the points to the cap via the rotor arm, then the cap to the leads ???

I'd recommend checking the cap and rotor arm if all else is working. Double check the points are connected up correctly and the gap is right.

[dklawson]

I know you're frustrated. I think you should start with a bit of reading. Take a look at the link below and please follow the subsequent pages that link off of it. It will show you succinctly how the ignition system works.
http://auto.howstuff...tion-system.htm

Once you're comfortable with that, please download the PDF I put together on troubleshooting points ignition systems. There is a troubleshooting section in it that may prove helpful.
http://home.mindspri...tsIgnitions.pdf

[Dan]

What do you mean by 'electricity isn't getting to the plugs'?

[Emo Elmo]

what i mean is the spark plugs are not sparking.


today i replaced the dist cap and rotor and i also retested the plug leads and found that they are not working so i replaced them aswell and still nogo. i think i might take it to a mechanic if i cant get it going in the next few days

[Zacherius]

what i mean is the spark plugs are not sparking.


today i replaced the dist cap and rotor and i also retested the plug leads and found that they are not working so i replaced them aswell and still nogo. i think i might take it to a mechanic if i cant get it going in the next few days

Is there definately power coming from your Coil to the Cap ?

Is the terminal plate connected to the Points correctly ? Did you connect the new Condenser ? ( have to ask )

Are you with the AA ?!?! lol

[Emo Elmo]

one of my mates who helped me out with putting the gap in the points said there is power going to the points(because he touched them and got a unexpected tingled lol)

im not too sure about the terminal plate tho but i think it is
the condenser is attached

no im not with the aa XD

[mini_kel]

Sounds like the points are earthing out make sure you have fitted them correctly, there needs to be a fibre washer between points and lead

[998dave]

With the dizzy cap off you can turn over the engine and look for a spark at the points.

I'd say it's likely dizzy cap and rotor arm, take a good look, they're likely corroded having been sat a while.

You shouldn't leave cars in paddocks, horses use them to scratch on.

[dklawson]

Download the points ignition PDF I provided a link to (the second link). It explains the basic ignition system and has a troubleshooting section.

How do you know the plug wires are bad? How did you test them?

Edited by dklawson, 13 January 2009 - 01:08 PM.

[Emo Elmo]

How do you know the plug wires are bad? How did you test them?

I used a multimeter and put the positive at one end and the negative at the other end and the ones that were on it had a reading of 0


im not too sure where im looking for the washer, should it be around the screw that holds the points in?


998dave: unfortunitally it was my neigbours car and they left it in the paddok until i bought it off them about 2 months ago, they dont have a horse but the rats have had a good feed on various parts of the engine including the top of some of the spark plug leads and the top of the fuse box

Edited by Emo Elmo, 13 January 2009 - 07:41 PM.

[dklawson]

I used a multimeter and put the positive at one end and the negative at the other end and the ones that were on it had a reading of 0

What that reading of 0 is telling you is that the wires are "continuous" from end to end.... 0-Ohms. That means they are solid core wires and you should use resistor plugs with them. It does not automatically mean the wires are bad.

If you had "resistor wires" they would probably measure about 5000 Ohms to 9000 Ohms end-to-end. Resistor wires are used with NON-resistor plugs.

If the insulation on your plug wires is cracked, hard, or brittle, then they would be bad. A reading of 0-Ohms does not mean they are bad.

Edited by dklawson, 13 January 2009 - 08:16 PM.

[Emo Elmo]

oh, i thought it was the other way around.
the insulation is not cracked but it is eaten away a little bit by rats

Edited by Emo Elmo, 13 January 2009 - 09:12 PM.

[dklawson]

The rats gave you a good reason to replace the wires.