wierd 78 SC distributor problem.

john walker's workshop · 03-07-2003, 08:16 AM

a mechanic from another shop called me about a car he's been trying to get running right. he said he could turn the dist cap on the dist housing a bit, and the engine ran way better. the initial timing was set at 5° BTDC, as usual, but the response was doggy until he turned the cap. sounds wierd, like the gear was 1/2 tooth off, causing the rotor tip to be quite a bit away from the cap contact, in spite of the timing being set correctly. the mechanical advance is free, the wire plug into the dist is not flipped. i can't think of anything right at this moment. anyone have a thought?

john walker's workshop · 03-07-2003, 08:26 AM

ok, we got it figured out. i suggested he flip the dist wire plug over and that was it. the signal was reversed.

rboylan · 03-07-2003, 08:35 AM

It must suck being that smart huh John ? Cheers.

gblumenstock · 03-07-2003, 08:40 AM

Is it indeed possible to reverse the plug?

John, any advice on replacing the distributor wire? I bought the replacement from our host but it has a female connector on the opposite end (away from the distributor). It appears that my wire on the car come directly from the harness. As this is a coax wire, any suggestions on how to splice it in properly or where I can get the male side of the connector? I have a 79SC.

GB

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

john did the dead CD ever arrive?

john walker's workshop · 09:18 AM

K911, yes the CD arrived. thanks much. i think maybe the dead can pull it together again, given a little time. nothing stays the same.

GB, the coaxial cable on your car needs to have a female plug spliced into it, so the new, double ended green unit can attach. use an ohmmeter before you cut it, to note which side of the plug takes the center signal wire and which is the braided ground. swapping them will cause the above problem. the plug end can be had from a dealer, or use one from an old wire loom. the little crimp on connectors are special too, and require the proper crimp tool to attach them.

Superman · 03-07-2003, 09:31 AM

Doggonit, John. I thought we had concluded that the polarity of the green wire conductors makes no difference. Now it sounds like it does. Are we talking about the same thing? If the polarity makes a difference, and if I've lost track of which is which, then how can I determine the proper polarity?

gblumenstock · 03-07-2003, 10:05 AM

Thanks John. I will try to get the part form the dealer.

GB