Hi again to all who were helpful last time.1971 Ford Mercury Cougar, 351 Cleveland.The story goes, I went to pick up my car today, but it wouldnt start.Battery fine, oil fine, water fine, starter fine, but no spark to turn over.It appears that there is spark to the dizzy, but no further, so I am assuming the coil is fine.I had planned to replace HT leads and sparkplugs once I got it home, but I will be changing those over next time I go over now anyway.So, my question is.
What else could it be! 1. Coil IS faulty, and I am just missing it! 2. Points in dizzy faulty! 3. Dizzy itself is faulty! 4. Something else!
Thanks for your time in advance.
mugenb20b,
Oct 17, 5:12pm
Yes to all 4, and has it got fuel! Is there spark coming FROM the dizzy!
bella-boo,
Oct 17, 5:13pm
Thanks, shane.64.So how would you takle the issue, eg which would you start throwing money at!
bella-boo,
Oct 17, 5:15pm
Yes, it has a full tank of fuel, and even tried "engine start" directly into carb.Father in law got me to "try the key" with the distributor cap off and touched something with a screwdriver and said there is spark.Hopefully that's helpful.
bella-boo,
Oct 17, 5:27pm
I checked for "gunk" between them, and they were pretty clean (that's all I know how to check on them).The key was shut off properly last time I drove it, and key came hoome with me (3 hours from car), and went back today, thinking I would be driving home today.Only played with it for a total of 20 mins to try to get her to start, then shut off key and brought it home again.I will be able to afford more time this week as my worker returns from holiday and I have a temp working with him for a couple of afternoons.
bella-boo,
Oct 18, 4:46am
Bump.Hoping for advice on where to start.Thanks.
bella-boo,
Oct 18, 10:28am
Ok, and what if I dont have a dwell meter!
jash3,
Oct 18, 12:54pm
You could try this : Take the dizzy cap off turn the motor over (by hand) untill the contact ponts are closed than using a fine sand paper place between the contact and give them a light sand make sure to do both sides hold them open abit and blow off any dust,dirt than try to start: Let me know how you get on.
afer_daily,
Oct 18, 2:49pm
silly question but / has anbody been working on it and left the rotor out of the dizzy
justcruisin,
Oct 18, 3:20pm
how did you check for spark! coil type!
bella-boo,
Oct 18, 5:04pm
Thanks.And to answer your question, the sort of person who hasnt had to use one yet.
bella-boo,
Oct 18, 5:05pm
Rotor is in there, I drove it to where it is, and a couple of times since.
bella-boo,
Oct 18, 5:07pm
Father in law checked for spark with dizzy cap off, and a screwdriver while I "tried the key".I dont know the coil type yet, I didnt even think to look until I was half way home already.Will definately be checking when I go back.
justcruisin,
Oct 18, 6:29pm
just what i was gonna ask. try a gapped out plug in the coil lead that goes to dissy and wind it over and see if ya get spark from coil
goron56,
Oct 18, 7:40pm
Take it to a the experts and get it tested properly.
bella-boo,
Jan 5, 10:08am
Got to it today, and thanks all.It was the points.
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