Home page
SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors!  |  Advertise Here

Topic: no spark !!

in Forum: C3 Engines


Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Back to top of thread

no spark !! (21/31)
 10/26/08 9:18am
eddie20875Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c


Joined: 12/21/2006
Posts: 828

brian, there should have been a small packet of the dieselectric grease in with the module. besides transfering the heat i believe it also helps conduct the currents thru it. when you remove the ignition module make sure to clean the plate wher it mounts and the bottom of the module good. coat the plate with a very thin layer of the grease and reinstall the module. hope this works for you.


______________
LIFETIME MEMBER #97
THE DYNAMIC DUO


no spark !! (22/31)
 10/26/08 10:29pm
acplus
Former Member

Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1972, 1980


Joined: 6/23/2008
Posts: 558

To test spark at the plug terminal at the distributor remove sprk plug wire at the distributor.... have a test light, and a wire with clips on each end.
Attach the wire to good ground (alt ground) take the other end of the wire and connect it to the test probe of the test light. with someone cranking it over bring the probe with the ground wire attached close to the terminal and see if you have a spark. Be careful only hold the handle part of the test light (wear some rubber gloves if you have some), or you can try to rest it close while you turn it over.
 
no spark !! (23/31)
 10/26/08 10:56pm
acplus
Former Member

Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1972, 1980


Joined: 6/23/2008
Posts: 558

I don't think you have the tach wire connected, if you do disconnect it,
 
Also when the coil or distributor cap is replaced, check that the ground clip is transferred from the old distributor cap to the new one. Remember there are two designs of HEI coils. One uses red and white wires, whereas the other design uses red and yellow wires for the primary coil that are reverse polarity be sure to get the proper one  in the proper spot.
no spark !! (24/31)
 10/26/08 11:16pm
acplus
Former Member

Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1972, 1980


Joined: 6/23/2008
Posts: 558

When you put the coil in ....you did put the spring loaded button on the bottom that touches the rotor right? If you can maybe take the coil out take it back where you bought it and have them test it and take your old one with you and have them test it too....if the old one is good this will help/seperate to find the problem.
John
no spark !! (25/31)
 10/28/08 7:20pm
vettemojo87
Former Member

Send Private Message

Joined: 10/22/2008
Posts: 11

YEEEE HAWWWWBig%20smile!!!
Problem found.  I was reading through all the posts & figured I'd run through all the tests again.  When I went to test the tach cord, I didn't like the results I was getting, according to Kstyer's post.  So, I disconnected the tach clip from the distrib & tried to start.  To my surprise, she fired right up!!!!  Yee HawBig%20smile!!!  You all deserve a big round of applauseClap.  You are all ok Thumbs%20Up in my book.  Thanks to everyone for helpping solve this problem.  If any of us ever meet up, first couple rounds are on me.
 
Now  I just have to find where the tach cord is not grounding properlyUnhappy.  But at least I know where the problem is & where to start. 
no spark !! (26/31)
 10/28/08 7:34pm
kstyerLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!


Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424

That brown tach wire goes to a tach filter (or should) and then on into the dash and directly to the tach.   
 
If the tach filter is shorted it could prevent the car from starting.  You can bypass the filter for testing, and it may operate fine, but the tach could be erratic with the filter bypassed.
no spark !! (27/31)
 10/28/08 8:56pm
acplus
Former Member

Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1972, 1980


Joined: 6/23/2008
Posts: 558

Good going..... glad hear..now you can start another question thread for your tach wire problem.
John
no spark !! (28/31)
 10/29/08 5:35pm
ranger3Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

North Charleston, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L48 AT AC T-top


Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176

I've said it before but is worth repeating. This is the greatest site and group of people anywhere to troubleshoot problems. It is the reason that I am a LIFER. What a wonderful group of friends.

Scott
ranger32008-10-29 14:37:09
no spark !! (29/31)
 10/29/08 5:53pm
acplus
Former Member

Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
1972, 1980


Joined: 6/23/2008
Posts: 558

Scott, you said it.
John
no spark !! (30/31)
 10/30/08 9:34am
vettemojo87
Former Member

Send Private Message

Joined: 10/22/2008
Posts: 11

I agree.
 
Brian
Re: no spark !! (31/31)
 11/30/17 12:06am
LUVETELifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

Fredericksburg, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1981, found 1/18/17 with 13,276.7 orig miles, stored since 1984, L81, 3spd auto, frost beige, doe cloth interior, looks new, drives great! Bowling Green s/n 3052


Joined: 10/10/2017
Posts: 6

I had the same problem with my 1981 350 L81, no spark and would not run. It had previously died randomly and then finally would not start at all. During the process of returning the car to service after 33 years in storage, a new ignition coil was installed in the HEI ignition. There are two grounds on the coil, one on top of the coil where the black wire attaches and the other is on the bottom of the coil where it grounds to the car. The new coil had a thick paint coating on the metal plates which was not removed in the two ground lug areas. Once the paint was removed in the ground lug areas, the car started and ran fine. What I think was happening was the ground lugs had just enough of a ground in the painted areas to let the car run intermittenly but would occasionally loose the ground and the car would just quit. Changing the module, radio supressor capacitor, and rotor had no effect. But when the paint in the ground lug areas was cleaned off, it had a good ground and ran fine. I now have a sign on my work bench stating "Before you spend any money chasing electrical problems with new parts, make sure the battery is good and all grounds are good". I already knew that but did not follow that advice on this problem, hence the sign.




|UPDATED|11/29/2017 9:06:21 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Our Sponsors help support C3VR