66 Charger won't start

[Charger-Man-NC]

I drove it last fall. I put it in the warehouse where I store it. I went to get it in April. I had a very hard time getting it started and it would just stop running. When I would put it in gear it would kill the engine. I found a bad wire harness. Replaced it, distributor, coil, ecu, battery, plugs, plug wires. It turns over but doesn't seem have to any spark. I put a timing light on the coil wire but no spark. I even put a new points distributor in and the same problem. I have put a jumper wire from the battery to the coil positive side when trying to start it. Also, it won't turn over with the key. I put the ignition switch in the run position, with the jumper to the battery and use a remote start switch. I have noticed that the battery cable going to the starter seems to smoke a little when turning the engine. Any one have any ideas?

 

[WileE]

It seems you're trying to circumvent the starting circuit and ignition circuit without trouble shooting either circuit for proper function. You have an ecu harness, but you now have a points distributor. Seems like you got things all mixed up. Troubleshoot the basic circuitry to find your problem.

 

[Geoff 2]

Try a new battery...

 

[kiwigtx]

Moisture inside the distributor cap ?

 

[kiwigtx]

I have noticed that the battery cable going to the starter seems to smoke a little when turning the engine.

That means you have a loose connection in that cable - causing higher than normal current draw - hence the heat & smoke build-up.

 

[Charger-Man-NC]

Try a new battery...

I already did that. Forgot to put that in the description.

 

[kiwigtx]

Similar situation for me a few years ago - I had a problem with starting a FORD Falcon a few years ago..... hot or cold it was sluggish to strta- as in turn over on the starter.

After investigation and some testing, I found the starter was bad - all the carbon on the brushes had built up over the years and caused massive internal shorting across the commutator. As cheap as they are I replaced the starter with a new one and the car has never sounded better.

BTW - trying a new battery before diagnosing the starter issues only served to kill a new battery. And cranking the engine on that new battery with a bad starter heated up the battery real fast and also started to soften all the starter wiring......so be careful.

 

[Charger-Man-NC]

Similar situation for me a few years ago - I had a problem with starting a FORD Falcon a few years ago..... hot or cold it was sluggish to strta- as in turn over on the starter.

After investigation and some testing, I found the starter was bad - all the carbon on the brushes had built up over the years and caused massive internal shorting across the commutator. As cheap as they are I replaced the starter with a new one and the car has never sounded better.

BTW - trying a new battery before diagnosing the starter issues only served to kill a new battery. And cranking the engine on that new battery with a bad starter heated up the battery real fast and also started to soften all the starter wiring......so be careful.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Geoff 2]

Seems you may have two problems:
- failing to crank
- loss of spark.

 

[Don Frelier]

Maybe the timing chain jumped?