The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay short in the starting circuit

Hi there,

I have a '54 Chevy 3100 truck with a 12v conversion. I have not been able to get any spark, though the engine turns.

I recently moved over to a Pertronix Igintion Coil and Electronic Points. I went to start the truck and it sounded like it wanted to spark, then quit.

I tried again and it did not turn at all...the horn merely made a clicking sound. I think I may have shorted the system.

An admitted novice I know very little about this engine as it is my first experience working on it. I am looking for advice on how to sleuth out the short.

I also heard from my local Auto parts dealer that the Pertronix coil needs a separate line running from the dash to the coil to make sure 12v is going to the coil. is this true?

i appreciate any help.

Cheers,

Carlos

Carlos,

Charge the battery. How new is it?

Did the engine start before you put in the Pertronix unit?

What is the condition of the ignition wires, rotor, cap, and coil?

What is the part number for the Pertronix unit you are using?

What kind of coil are you using (voltage and brand)?

Do you have a ballast resister in-line to the coil?

I'd use normal points/condenser (set properly) and first get the engine running. Then, I'd try out the Pertronix unit.

Hy Ruckin Chevy, it sounds to me like you have a bad connection in the positive or ground circuit, check all your large cable connections beginning with the battery. I have installed quite a few Pertronix conversions, and I have never had to install anything that did not come in the kit.

Clean the battery terminal connections. A short creates a high-current discharge and burns wires of blows fuses. What you've got is an open circuit, not a short.
Jerry

WOW...thanks for all the replies. Here is what I know...

The battery is brand new and fully charged, I have it on a trickle charger.

The engine never started before the pertronix points (1168LS) which is why I moved to it. the engine was turning before...but there was no spark.

the wires are brand new...plugs are brand new...cap and rotor are new...ignition coil wire is new. the coil is the Pertronix flame thrower (40511...12V with internal resistor).

I will check my hard connections since the lights work but the horn clicks. I am dumfounded because it worked for two tries and then crapped out on the third.

I will check on the open circuit issues and let you know what I find.

Cheers,

Carlos

If your bat is strong & all the cables & connections are good, you probably have a bad starter or the switch on top of it. Wire the petronics acording to the directions. Some models retain the resister & some dont.

Would the horn still be able to sound if there is a bad starter? I am really perplexed here because it was turning with the new Pertronix points and coil, then on the 3rd try there was nothing.

Here is what I have that is 12V: Battery, generator, starter, coil. am I missing anything to have a full 12V system? I ask because I am wondering if the system was never fully converted before and I need to make the full conversion.

I am with 3B on cleaning EVERY connection in the path from the battery to the starter. This includes chassis ground straps, and the negative battery connections. If you have the repair type battery terminals just go buy new cables of at least 2ga or thicker.

Carlos

You have made so many changes that I am sure you are confused. I am too and I am a good electrician.

Here is what I would do.
DISCONNECT EVERYTHING START FROM SCRATCH WITH ONE CIRCUIT AT A TIME.
1. Connect battery ground. I would do 2 or 3 of em - one to starter motor mounting bolt (it is your heaviest load use 2/0 weld cable). One to engine block better yet the generator / alternator(kinda redundant I know use oh maybe 4 or 6) and one to frame use 4 or six.
2. Connect starter relay use 2/0 if you can get it to fit.
3. Wire starter relay (if foot stomp - ignore) to start run switch. Test in start (should run) check in RUN should not.

When you get that working right we will do next step.

Dan Bentler

Carlos I would listen to what these guys have to say. However in my case when I had a similar problem there was a short in the starter that was found when I took the starter to be tested. Re winding a starter is not a cheap proposition.
Murray