weird starting problem

E

estoura 1970

New Member
As the weather is too crap for painting i thought i would have a go at getting the engine running,
to start with had to have starter motor reconditioned as it would not turn over or even click,
once refitted engine turns over, :D
but does not fire connect spare spark plug into number 1 lead no spark so pull off dizzy cap
no points condenser or rotor arm :( , order new parts and fit still no spark,
find wire from dizzy to coil has been cut fit new wire then
check power to coil with ignition on 0v, but 12v when turning over,
when the key is turned over to start the car will start but as soon as you let it go
the engine dies.
so i thought as there is no 12v at coil when ignition is on i would check this
there has been a seperate wire from the ignition switch to the + side of the coil
so i thought this must be the culprit, moved the wire to an ignition live on the switch
and the engine turns over as soon as you go to ignition on without going to crank
the car will start when it is like this but the starter motor is still engaged,
if i remove the wire completly the engine does not turn over, as soon as i put the wire
back to its original terminal the engine turns over and starts on the crank but stops again when
i let go of the key,
how can a wire going to the coil engage the starter motor,
sorry for the essay but this is bugging me
 
Sounds like you've got the supply from the starter when cranking, but no ignition supply, so I'd hotwire the coil and try again. If it starts than you need to find where you're losing the coil supply.
 
estoura 1970 said:
so if i disconect the wires from the positive side of the coil and run a direct 12v to it the car should run
Click to expand...

Correct. Just don't forget you'll need to disconnect the hotwire to stop the engine. Don't run it for too long on 12v either as it's a ballasted coil.
 
estoura 1970 wrote,...
when the key is turned over to start the car will start but as soon as you let it go
the engine dies.
Click to expand...

That to me is indicative of a problem with the ignition switch. The switch attaches to the rear of the barrel, so you will need to detach the switch from the rear and remove in order to overhaul or replace it.

I had the same problem with my Rover a around 7 years ago. The engine would start fine, but as soon as pressure was released from the ignition key, the engine would stop. After I fitted a new ignition switch, the problem was gone.

Ron.
 
after trying bypassing the ballast resistor still got the same result
put 12v direct to the coil with all other wires on the + side removed
the car started and ran, only temporaly as the fuel pump stopped
with the other wires removed connected one at a time got fuel pump working
but the starter motor ingaged straight away
without touching anything else,
traced the wires round the engine bay to the starter motor
found two wires on the starter swapped them over connected
one of the coil wires starter engaged tried the other same thing,
looked at the wires more closley and found that at some point the
wires had touched the hot exhaust and had melted together pulled them
apart connected wires back on coil and nothing happened which was good
turned key car started and ran instantly,
ran engine for about an hour never missed a beat, temp got to 85 degrees
and stayed there, the engine has not been started since 2011 was well
happy how she ran.
 
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