starting problem??

Posted By: AB&E

starting problem?? - 04/26/11 03:25 AM

Okay guys my car will not start when I am turning it over it will only start when you stop turning key over & its just right.

I have electronic ignition its on a 71 cuda. I have replaced resister block & swapped out ecu from other car still same thing it will run if you catch it just right & it doesnt catch on fire sucks

please help I had coulumn restored 6yrs ago at ecs & had a new ignition switch installed at that time. I am thinking ignition switch now ?????????

Its loosing juice when turning over why electrical sucks

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 03:46 AM

4 pin ECU/2 terminal ballast or 5 pin ECU/4 terminal (dual) ballast? Pull the yellow "ign" wire off of the starter relay to disable the starter to save the battery/elim the noise distraction & have a helper hold the key to "start" & you see if the coil positive pri terminal and the ECU main feed terminal (2 terminals on a 5 pin ECU) are getting fire. Pull/clean the bulkhead & work back toward the ign sw or downstream forward to find the open

Posted By: AB&E

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 04:15 AM

okay I have a 5ecu/4wire ballast When i turn key on I have power to pos of coil & to ecu but when I turn to start I loose all power to both ??

Posted By: 1965_PLYMOUTH

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 04:37 AM

sounds like a bad pick-up inside the distributor. I ran into this many times back in the day.

Posted By: AB&E

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 04:54 AM

I see this has been a problem lots of times.
So I am thinking now
1 bad connection
2 ign. switch
3 pickup coil ?

any other thoughts

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 05:41 AM

Check for voltage from the ignition switch. Do you have a service manual or the wiring diagram?

Posted By: ireland383

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 11:48 AM

Check your grounds. Also make sure your field connections are tight on your alternator. Make sure the bulkhead wiring doesn't have any shorts or corrosion.

Posted By: MoparforLife

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 02:02 PM

Simple 'fix'. Run a push button switch to the starter relay terminals and start with the key in the run position. just make sure to have vehicle is in park or Neutral when starting as it will start in any position this way. Great anti theft devise. Not a true and 'correct' repair, but is cheap and it works.

Posted By: AB&E

Re: starting problem?? - 04/26/11 05:50 PM

Quote:

Check your grounds. Also make sure your field connections are tight on your alternator. Make sure the bulkhead wiring doesn't have any shorts or corrosion.

I did find that the wire going to stud on alt.(not sure which wire only one with stud ) the stud sheered off so I just took inside nut off & bolted terminal back on ?? I would not think that was it but????? My problem is no power in start mode to coil.key on good go to start loose power?

Posted By: AB&E

Re: starting problem?? - 04/27/11 12:12 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Check your grounds. Also make sure your field connections are tight on your alternator. Make sure the bulkhead wiring doesn't have any shorts or corrosion.

I did find that the wire going to stud on alt.(not sure which wire only one with stud ) the stud sheered off so I just took inside nut off & bolted terminal back on ?? I would not think that was it but????? My problem is no power in start mode to coil.key on good go to start loose power?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: starting problem?? - 04/27/11 03:27 AM

Quote:

but when I turn to start I loose all power to both ??

w key held to start see if you have fire at the "ign2" wire in the plastic pull apart connector dangling below the st column (a test light w needle probe tip and alligator clip on the other end to ground it works well 4 this). Dont seperate it but use the needle probe. No power "out", need to pull the steering wheel to access the sw. If power, go up to & seperate the bulkhead and check the 2 brass connectors on either side for that circuit. www.mymopar.com has the colors 4 you

Posted By: maxwedge1

Re: starting problem?? - 04/27/11 04:36 AM

if it ran before and wiring/ignition switch checks out, i too suspect the pickup coil in distrib.

seen it on mopar and fords..cranks and cranks and just as you release the key it trys to fire.

Posted By: AB&E

Re: starting problem?? - 04/27/11 05:25 PM

thanks for all the help .
I just want all the info I can get so next time I spend 3hrs working on it

I may be able to fix it with all your guys help so thanks again

Posted By: dem440c

Re: starting problem?? - 04/27/11 05:46 PM

my memory may be goofy on this... but isn't this a part of the starter relay setup? Seems like there is a separate circuit which feeds 12V on the coil side of the ballast resistor when in the "start" position (bypassing the resistor) and the circuit is fed by the relay.

I know I have encountered the opposite situation when the car starts and runs as long as you hold it on "start" but then stalls as soon as you release the key, which is what you get when the ballast resistor goes bad. Just extrapolating from that.