The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine died and won't start

Good day everyone, I was warming up my truck this morning, it a 1950 3100 with a 235ci and it died on me, and I could not get it to restart. It was running just fine then died out of the blue and it would not restart. So, I sprayed some started fluid in the card and nothing, then I poured some gas in carb and also nothing. Therefore, I believe it may be an ignition problem and not a fuel problem, it should have at least ran for a second on the starter fluid. For the last couple of day when I am accelerating it has been missing. I have not been able to figure it out, but it seems the problems are most likely connected. My first thought is it may be the coil, but I am not really sure the best way to check the coil. Does anyone have any trouble shooting suggestions, thanks in advance. Also, I should add I have an electronic distributor, so the points are not the issue.

Mike, Since your post is directly engine related, it's been moved over to the Engine Shop for further conversation and help from fellow Bolters. I am sure others will be along shortly!

Check to see if the distributor is turning. A stripped timing gear stops an engine dead in its tracks. Remove the distributor cap, have someone crank the engine (out of gear, obviously) and see if the rotor is turning. While the cap is off, check on the condition of the points and see if they're opening and closing properly. They should be clean and not discolored. If all that checks out, come back for more diagnostic checks, looking for high and low voltage at all the right places. Good luck!
Jerry

Exactly as what Jerry is recommending. Then get back to us with what you find. What year is the 235?

Unsure of the year of the 235, sorry.

"Electronic distributor"- - - - -which one? There are two types of Pertronix units- - - - -the ones that have failed, and those that will fail soon. RUN- - - -do not walk away from those things!
Jerry

and another simple check. Make sure its getting power (the distributor) and not simple some blown fuse some where.

Hotrod gave me the same advice. I have a new 6v pertronix if anyone wants it.

Take out a spark plug, leave the wire on it, let the threads/metal body touch bare metal. Crank motor and see if there is spark jumping. Do it in a dark place to be very sure you can see the spark or not. Report back. Don't change anything before you do that.

So, I got home from work, I checked to see if power was getting to the coil with a test light, and it was. Then I pulled a spark plug to see it was getting spark and the thing started no problem, event though I had a spark plug out. I also made sure the rotor was turning in the distributor, it obviously was. So, here are the facts: 1. died this morning a would not start again, 2. Got home it started right up, 3. coil is getting power 4. it has been missing when I have been accelerating the last couple days. It seems to me that if ignition is the problem and I think it is, it must be between the coil and the spark plug. Does anyone have any further, trouble shooting suggestions, such as how can I test the coil and the distributor?

Points and condenser are prime suspects.

Dude doesn't have points or condenser. "Electronic distributor."

Not knowing what he has exactly makes troubleshooting his electronic ignition impossible from here, and next to impossible even if we knew what he has.
I would recommend going back to points. If that works, he'll know what's wrong. I am not big on throwing parts at problems, but throwing original parts back in seems like a good idea to me.

Not enough information- - - -like what brand of "electronic ignition" you''re running. In 65+ years of making a living fixing cars, building very competitive racing engines, and 30+ years teaching at the high school and state trade school level, I've seen less than a dozen faulty coils. Three of them overheated from somebody leaving the ignition switch on for hours, and boiled the insulation oil out. Give us enough information to work with, and somebody will be able to help you figure out what's going on. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rank the coil as the source of the problem at about a minus three!
Jerry

Sorry - missed that. Yes, I agree with reinstalling points to rule out the Pertronix or whatever, or to condemn it.

I figured it out, it had too much fuel pressure, so it was flooding the engine. I put on a regulator and problem solved, thanks for the help everyone.