Johnmj6363
Member
Howdy All,
I've been lurking in this forum for a while and I've finally decided to post. I thank you ALL for the info provided in this forum as it has helped me rule out a few things while diagnosing this beast.
The vehicle belongs to my elderly neighbor, trying to get it running so that I can use it in our wedding (any help would be greatly appriciated).
Specs:
1965 Plymouth Satellite
Auto Trans
273 V8 w/ 2bbl carb
New Parts:
Carb
Coil
Distributor
cap/rotor button/plugs/wires
Ignition Ballast Resistor
Starter
Starter Relay
Mechanical Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter
Issue:
Vehicle was running great. Distributor was replaced last spring by local shop. Vehicle ran fine all summer. Owner went to drive vehicle in the fall after sitting for a week or 2. It started up, backed out of garage, and died. Has not been able to keep it running since. Owner shipped carb off to be rebuilt and reinstalled, no luck. Owner replaced coil, no luck. Owner replaced ignition resistor, no luck. Owner replaced starter relay, no luck. Owner gave up and called me (I'm not sure why).
My first thought was the ballast resistor, but he had replaced that already. I was guessing an issue with the ignition system so I pulled a plug and checked for spark. It was there, but seemed weak to me. I used the info on this forum to check everything I could with ignition, all within spec. No OL when checking for resistance anywhere. No burn connectors at bulk head. Almost 7V exactly going to coil. Points look good. 12v to 7v on resistor. Check for voltage on ignition side of resistor with key on, less than .3V which I believe is fine. No issues found with ignition system, besides my apparent thought that the spark looked weak.
Onto compression, all cylinders testing between 100psi - 115psi. Not great, but not bad for a motor that's older than I am. I didn't bother using oil in the cylinder to test for ring wear and I thought the compression should be enough to make the engine run.
Onto Fuel. I had the misses hold the throttle wide open and crank the key while I sprayed brake parts cleaner (didn't have any starting fluid on me) into the carb with the air cleaner off. I told her to let go of the key and take her foot off the accelerator when it started to run. A few tries, and it's ALIVE (sort of). It runs VERY rough for 5-8 seconds and dies. I continue to try and get it running, the best I got was 10-12 seconds of rough idle and any adjustment to the throttle resulted in choking the engine out and it dying. It seems now that unless I spray external fuel right into the carb, it will not start (I'm worried I'm going to kill this guys new starter with how much I'm using it).
I know NOTHING about carburetors, I wanted to start by saying that. I feel I have narrowed the issue down to the fuel system, though I don't know why the vehicle would be running great and then all of the sudden one day it doesn't want to start or stay running at all. I really suspected ignition (and still think maybe timing) but I think I've ruled the ignition system out, and I'm not sure how it would have all of the sudden got so out of time it wouldn't run at all, but would for me with some fuel help.
The only thing I have been able to pinpoint on the carb is a leak, coming from the very bottom (see pic). I noticed a small fuel puddle building up on top of the intake manifold when I let it sit in the garage overnight. I can see a droplet coming off the bottom most screw, though I'm not sure this would stop it from running.
I've attached as many pictures of the engine bay and the only short videos I could capture while the engine was running, before it died.
PLEASE HELP! I'm not the most knowledgeable with these older vehicles, but my mechanical skills are strong and I'm eager to learn.
Thanks in advance,
- J
I've been lurking in this forum for a while and I've finally decided to post. I thank you ALL for the info provided in this forum as it has helped me rule out a few things while diagnosing this beast.
The vehicle belongs to my elderly neighbor, trying to get it running so that I can use it in our wedding (any help would be greatly appriciated).
Specs:
1965 Plymouth Satellite
Auto Trans
273 V8 w/ 2bbl carb
New Parts:
Carb
Coil
Distributor
cap/rotor button/plugs/wires
Ignition Ballast Resistor
Starter
Starter Relay
Mechanical Fuel Pump
Fuel Filter
Issue:
Vehicle was running great. Distributor was replaced last spring by local shop. Vehicle ran fine all summer. Owner went to drive vehicle in the fall after sitting for a week or 2. It started up, backed out of garage, and died. Has not been able to keep it running since. Owner shipped carb off to be rebuilt and reinstalled, no luck. Owner replaced coil, no luck. Owner replaced ignition resistor, no luck. Owner replaced starter relay, no luck. Owner gave up and called me (I'm not sure why).
My first thought was the ballast resistor, but he had replaced that already. I was guessing an issue with the ignition system so I pulled a plug and checked for spark. It was there, but seemed weak to me. I used the info on this forum to check everything I could with ignition, all within spec. No OL when checking for resistance anywhere. No burn connectors at bulk head. Almost 7V exactly going to coil. Points look good. 12v to 7v on resistor. Check for voltage on ignition side of resistor with key on, less than .3V which I believe is fine. No issues found with ignition system, besides my apparent thought that the spark looked weak.
Onto compression, all cylinders testing between 100psi - 115psi. Not great, but not bad for a motor that's older than I am. I didn't bother using oil in the cylinder to test for ring wear and I thought the compression should be enough to make the engine run.
Onto Fuel. I had the misses hold the throttle wide open and crank the key while I sprayed brake parts cleaner (didn't have any starting fluid on me) into the carb with the air cleaner off. I told her to let go of the key and take her foot off the accelerator when it started to run. A few tries, and it's ALIVE (sort of). It runs VERY rough for 5-8 seconds and dies. I continue to try and get it running, the best I got was 10-12 seconds of rough idle and any adjustment to the throttle resulted in choking the engine out and it dying. It seems now that unless I spray external fuel right into the carb, it will not start (I'm worried I'm going to kill this guys new starter with how much I'm using it).
I know NOTHING about carburetors, I wanted to start by saying that. I feel I have narrowed the issue down to the fuel system, though I don't know why the vehicle would be running great and then all of the sudden one day it doesn't want to start or stay running at all. I really suspected ignition (and still think maybe timing) but I think I've ruled the ignition system out, and I'm not sure how it would have all of the sudden got so out of time it wouldn't run at all, but would for me with some fuel help.
The only thing I have been able to pinpoint on the carb is a leak, coming from the very bottom (see pic). I noticed a small fuel puddle building up on top of the intake manifold when I let it sit in the garage overnight. I can see a droplet coming off the bottom most screw, though I'm not sure this would stop it from running.
I've attached as many pictures of the engine bay and the only short videos I could capture while the engine was running, before it died.
PLEASE HELP! I'm not the most knowledgeable with these older vehicles, but my mechanical skills are strong and I'm eager to learn.
Thanks in advance,
- J