so i decided to relplace the distributor cap, rotor, spark plug wires and all just because all that stuff looks so old. anyway, the rotor fit a little too snug inside the plastic dust cap. i didnt think much of it, but after about a mile, the car died. no spark. i had the coil tested, and its still good. i installed new points, but there is still no spark. i tested by pulling the wire that goes from the coil to the distributor, and it does not spark against a ground. can anyone help me?
Condenser???? Dwell?????? I like using an inductive timing light to check for spark. Did it run before you did this stuff? What do you mean by the rotor was too tight?
Bill
P.S. I tried my best not to say "just install a efi turbo engine", but.........
i cant say it really ran well, i had so much trouble with the fuel system, i was just planning on doing a little matinence by replacing the cap, rotor and wires. what i meant about rotor being too tight, it was tight it the plastic "dust cover" underneath the distributor cap. it melted the cover and fused some of the plastic to the new rotor, but it was running with the old rotor, so i threw it back on. but the thing is, there is no spark from the coil to the distributor. i disconnected the coil wire, and when trying to start the engine, there is no spark going from the coil to the distributor.
ps. if i could install a turbo engine, i would
Ok, got it. Got good contacts on the coil? Check the other stuff I mentioned? I would put it all back in and test at the plugs.
Bill
everything is good on the coil. i checked the plugs first, no spark. but, there is no spark coming out of the coil. i even tried hot-wiring the coil, but still no spark ( i check spark by disconnecting the coil wire and holding it close to the distributor. i also tried the spark it with a grounded body part, still no luck)
i appreciate all help. its costing me $10 a day to get back and forth to school in my camaro, and i need my pinto
Pull the cap off and watch the rotor while someone else turns the car over. It should turn. if not, you may have broken a timing belt or intermidiate shaft.
If it "melted" anything in the Disty you've got something BAD wrong inside the cap. The rotor shuld actually have a tiny air gap to the contacts in the Disty. If it doesn't turn freely, it could cause damage. Definately check to ensure the rotor is turning, if not I'm kinda doubtful of an intermediate shaft failure. More likely is the 1/8in roll pin that holds the gear on the disty shaft. as for it running crappy then dying, a timing belt usually doesn't give any warnings, they just break ,& the car dies. That said it could be that the car was running crappy anyway due to the fuel problems you were having. I'd check inside the Disty & under the rotor for damage.