Hey there guys. 223 six Ford 1956 Yesterday late night I started her in the driveway. She hasnt been driven since Tuesday, so I wanted to warm her up. Weather is pretty fine and hot, so she fired up promplty with a smooth idle, and like this it kept running to normal operating temperature. I leaned towards the engine bay to check the newly installed oil pressure switch for any possible leaks and as I pushed myself out of there the car INSTANTLY shuts off. I mean, just like someone had turned the ignition key off. She didnt fire up anymore and I have no spark at the plugs. I'm gonna look into it later on. I've got no spark, it was and instant shut off so I believe electrical issue. What could have caused this? Could I have broken something with my hands while pushing myself backwards? Could for instance a coil go bad suddenly and cause this? Given the symptoms, whats your diagnostic?
is there a ballast resistor before your coil? if so check to see if there is voltage flowing thru it.
Yes Zapato, I've got a ballast resistor. Only checked it with a mirror to look at those springs beneath but didnt saw anything wrong. Didnt test it tough. It was past midnight and the "Christine" act spooked me off.... I'm kiddin, I went to sleep frustrated and am goin through it later. Thanks for the tip, I'll go through the troubleshooting section in the engine's manual and will bare in mind to test the resistor. Regards.
Rui, I don't know what transmission you have, but the wiring harness has a bullet type connector very soon after it emerges from inside the car on the driver's side upper firewall. This connector is where the neutral safety switch on FordOMatics hooks to. Manual transmission cars just use a barrel connector to connect the two wires together. It is possible you may have dislodged the connection which will kill power to the coil. Don't ask me how I know this!
Thanks Brodie. How do you know that? Well, I'll just have to check that also. I run a 3 spd manual. I'll look at it later on but I didnt even came close to that area of the engine bay. I was messing with the oil press switch on the opposite side.. Thanks. I believe two wires and a lamp will tell me what is going on. Regards
Hey there guys. Sorry for the absence. I only fixed it this weekend, but as usual it’s hard to point out a single culprit. The car is running very good. Better, it never ran this good. To make a long story short, after running the possible tests, heavily influenced by my lack of auto-electrician knowledge, I replaced the condenser which had some 6 months (remember the thread “Here we go again”). Points were ok. The car didnt start immediatelly since I had cranked it several times before and plugs were wet. So I cleaned them and I got the car running, but with a rough idle. I didnt had any other condenser at hand. I called an electrician friend and he advised me to try a little spark amplifier module that he mysteriously (to me) called a "Cartier". I was a bit against it, 'cause points are points and they'r simple and trustworthy, but I thought I would give it a try. So out I went hunting for that part. I found it at a used auto-parts store. Doing a little research I found out that the part is in fact a transistorized ignition module produced by a french manufacturer caller G. Cartier. Installed it with help from the electrician. Its remarkable what it does: lightning large blue spark at the coil’s lead to dizzy, instant start-ups, very nice revving. It must be igniting every particle of fuel/air in the cyls. Beautiful tan at the sparkplugs. Did I convert it to electronic ignition? I guess. I can get some shots for you later on. What do you think? Will this last? Thanks for your interest. Regards
Here you go guys: Theory: http://constructionmanuals.tpub.com/14050/css/14050_96.htm Diagrams (french): https://www.google.pt/search?q=boit...ei=pbpsVcmQI4GsUd_ug5AO&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1 My setup attached. As to the price... well, it was a bargain. This part is originally mounted on late 80's to early 90's gas Renaults. I called Renault Portugal and they said 97€ plus tax for a new part. I found it 2nd hand at a auto part store. 10€.
The Jalopy Journal
