Starting problem.

Argeo · 08-10-2004, 02:00 PM

Is it possible for a battery to turn over an engine but not have enough juice to spark at the same time? I got stuck yesterday where the car would turn over but no spark was getting to the plugs. I had the giy from AAA give a jump with one of those carry things they use and it started right up. The car for some reason has been having this intermittent starting problem where it will turn but not spark. The car drives fine. I turn off and put away and then it won't start sometimes afterwards whether soon after or hours later. If I let sit for a while it eventually fires up. The car is a 77 Carrera 3.0 with a permatune (silver one - 3 prong). Does it sound like a bad connection someplace or something else. It is getting gas. Also, I have noticed twice, once was yesterday after I left the car and went back to start up, that it fires up but immediately dies and then it doesn't get spark again.

I know my battery is weak. When I drove it home last night. I checked the battery after it sat for a while and it only read 10 volts. I think Permatune needs at least five volts but what if the starter is sucking up most of the voltage. Not sure how it works.

Any help appreciated,

David

Paulporsche · 08-10-2004, 02:14 PM

How old is the battery? What about the plug wires? Do you have points in that dist?

Argeo · 08-10-2004, 02:22 PM

Plug wires are new. Battery I got last year but I noticed that after sitting over the winter, the water level were way down. Not sure if leaked or were down before I put away for winter projects. The car does have a short someplace that I have been unable to find. I put a switch on the battery. Car has points which are about a year old.

This has been an on going problem for a couple months that I was hoping to address this winter but sort of have to look into now since I am stripping the car and driving to various places for help with welding and stuff. Car died at the welders yesterday. I shut down with the key, went to start back up and only turned over. Didn't have the problem for a week before that. It seems to come and go.

Thanks,

David

Paulporsche · 08-10-2004, 03:02 PM

You can check the steel around the battery to see if it is leaking. Is it a sealed type battery? Even if it isn't I don't think it should lose a significant amount of fluid over the winter. Is it possible it boiled away prior to then? Did you get any strange smells coming from it while driving? What brand and size of battery is it?

Have you checked your dwell angle? Make sure the distributor shaft moves freely and springs back. Make sure the dist itself does not move.

Is your fan belt tightened correctly? Are you sure your underhood light goes off when hood is closed?

Have you checked the ground cables?

Argeo · 08-11-2004, 04:57 AM

No sign of leakage, so maybe it burned off. No strange smell though. Does this happen when the battery is over charging? The alternator probably has about 5K on it, not sure it matters.

Does anyone know if it is possible for the starter to turn and not have enough juice left to create a spark. Sorry, electricity stupid amongst otherthings too.

The battery is definetly junk, I have just been slow to return it. Often when I try to start the car the solenoid just clicks and then after several tries decides to turn over. I know when I juice up the battery before starting it turns right over with no problem. As I mentioned earlier the battery was at 10v after a 5 min ride sitting, turned off. I will check the voltage tonight when I get home and see if it has dropped. The battery is disconnected from the car which would show it is not holding a charge.

Thanks,

David