74 charger won't start?.
- Thread starter robw13
- Start date
robw13
Well-Known Member
Hello again, finally got the car to Crank but no Start. Changed the plugs, wires, coil and still no go.
Montclaire
Well-Known Member
Ballast resistor?
Nacho-RT74
Well-Known Member
check if coil is getting power in RUN and in START position to + lead. In Start should get full 12 volts... in RUN quite less... 5 to 9 volts
robw13
Well-Known Member
180 out?
Ron 73
Deceased, But not forgotton
Get a test light and have someone hold it on the + side of coil and ground the other end, turn key to run position it should light up, turn to crank it SHOULD be brighter, If your battery is low or bad it may not have enough volts to start it, you need 12 volts, when you release it (key to run) it comes down to about 7 volts, That is what the ballast resister is for to control volts..
Make sure all connections are clean! It should at least try to fire if you have the voltage to do it, 12 volts crank, 7 volts on run... G-luck...., Make sure its a good battery!
Make sure all connections are clean! It should at least try to fire if you have the voltage to do it, 12 volts crank, 7 volts on run... G-luck...., Make sure its a good battery!
When the distributor is 180 degrees out. The motor tries to fire but timing is too far out to crank.
Back in the 80s when I was 16 I couldn't get my 73 to crank with the key. I'd turn it but nothing. Figured out the neutral trans switch was bad. Finally got it to work but then couldn't get the car to start it was firing with the exhaust valves open. The distributor was 180 out.
robw13
Well-Known Member
How do u check the distributor for the 180 out?
robw13
Well-Known Member
Ok little stressed, I've still got No Spark! I've replaced Dizzy Cap & Button, Wires & Plugs, Starter, Relay, Dual Ballast, ICM =4Pin and Volt. Regulator. Grounds are checked and fuses under dash are good. It just turns...
Bruzilla
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You need four things to run: Air, Spark, Timing, and Fuel. If your air cleaner is off, and you're not in outer space, you've got air. 
Next, go to an auto parts store and get a spark checker. They're just a few bucks. Get an old spark plug and clip it on, follow the directions, and see if there's any spark. If there isn't, you need to start working your way back through the ignition system. One tip here is never, ever, trust a used battery to be good. Even a great battery that's been sitting around can go bad. My suggestion for guys is save yourself a lot of time and tail chasing and just buy a new battery before you start resurrecting a dead car.
As for the 180 out, the cheap and easy way to test that is get the firing order for your engine off the internet, then pull your spark plug wires and plug them in the opposite from what they are now. Your cap should have a "1" embossed where the #1 spark plug wire should go, so put the #1 wire on the other side and reinstall the rest of the wires as per the firing order and see if the engine starts. If it still won't fire, return the wires to their original positions since you likely aren't 180 out. Another problem could be the timing is way out of whack. Loosen the distributor hold down bolt and turn the distributor left and right while cranking and see what happens. If the engine tries to start, then you're probably looking at your wires being off by one so recheck your order. If there's no difference, then the problem is likely fuel.
Pull the fuel line off the carb, put the end in an empty soda bottle, and crank the engine. If the bottle starts filling up, you know you got gas to the carb, but that doesn't mean the carb isn't bad. As anyone who's bought a used carb knows, when you get one that's been sitting on someone's shelf for years, you better plan on getting it rebuilt. If there's little or no gas, then the problem is either a bad filter, bad pump, clogged fuel lines, or clogged pick up in the tank.
What did you do to the gas tank before you tried to start it? Did you get all the 20 year old gas, which is likely useless, out? Did you clean the tank out? If you just poured in new gas, you're still dealing with old gas AND you stirred up 20+ years of sentiment and goop that you pulled into your pickup, lines, pump, and filter as soon as you turned the engine the first time.
Next, go to an auto parts store and get a spark checker. They're just a few bucks. Get an old spark plug and clip it on, follow the directions, and see if there's any spark. If there isn't, you need to start working your way back through the ignition system. One tip here is never, ever, trust a used battery to be good. Even a great battery that's been sitting around can go bad. My suggestion for guys is save yourself a lot of time and tail chasing and just buy a new battery before you start resurrecting a dead car.
As for the 180 out, the cheap and easy way to test that is get the firing order for your engine off the internet, then pull your spark plug wires and plug them in the opposite from what they are now. Your cap should have a "1" embossed where the #1 spark plug wire should go, so put the #1 wire on the other side and reinstall the rest of the wires as per the firing order and see if the engine starts. If it still won't fire, return the wires to their original positions since you likely aren't 180 out. Another problem could be the timing is way out of whack. Loosen the distributor hold down bolt and turn the distributor left and right while cranking and see what happens. If the engine tries to start, then you're probably looking at your wires being off by one so recheck your order. If there's no difference, then the problem is likely fuel.
Pull the fuel line off the carb, put the end in an empty soda bottle, and crank the engine. If the bottle starts filling up, you know you got gas to the carb, but that doesn't mean the carb isn't bad. As anyone who's bought a used carb knows, when you get one that's been sitting on someone's shelf for years, you better plan on getting it rebuilt. If there's little or no gas, then the problem is either a bad filter, bad pump, clogged fuel lines, or clogged pick up in the tank.
What did you do to the gas tank before you tried to start it? Did you get all the 20 year old gas, which is likely useless, out? Did you clean the tank out? If you just poured in new gas, you're still dealing with old gas AND you stirred up 20+ years of sentiment and goop that you pulled into your pickup, lines, pump, and filter as soon as you turned the engine the first time.
robw13
Well-Known Member
Ok, I have No Spark. I'm not sure if the Ammeter or Bulkhead is bad. Any ways to check both or have pics of what they should look like?
Bruzilla
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robw13
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Pulled spark plug and when cranked no spark as well witj a tester.
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