Intrepolicious
Well-Known Member
After getting my fuel delivery issues seemingly resolved, (I ended up finding a vacuum port not properly plugged in my "318 down" thread, and the car has been running great all week, with me driving it all over town, to work and back etc etc), she started giving me issues again on Saturday. I was doing some cleaning in the engine bay and decided that since I had just replaced the plugs, I should get new wires and a cap & rotor. Keep in mind that I was driving the car around like normal Saturday morning, even took the car up to get the new wires, cap & rotor.
Well, I get back and get everything installed. Yes, I have the FSM and carefully installed the wires in the correct 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order etc etc. Started her up and she was running great! I let her idle for a good 10-15 minutes and she suddenly stumbles and stalls. Tried to start her back up and nothing... this is when I decided to check for spark. None!
So I decided to replace the coil... figuring this car is 37 years old, and I'm most likely having multiple issues... the fuel issue seemed to be resolved, as she's been running great with me driving the car all around town all week. Now it could be something else. The "no spark" condition I observed led me to the coil conclusion, so I installed said new coil and still nothing. "Seemed like" I was still not getting any spark. (for the record, a couple weeks ago when I was having issues, I checked for spark and had plenty of spark/arc between the cable and the block when using the old school method)) So maybe the coil is getting hot - easy: replaced the coil.
For good measure, and because the coil clearly reads "use with external resistor" on it's label, I also replaced the resistor since it was only $5 and they had it in stock when I bought the new coil. Still nothing.. crank crank and crank, but no fire. It was at that point that I gave up for the day and went to bed... Took the GF's Honda to work Sunday for my double shift.
-Monday a.m.-
This morning I get in and turn the key and she starts right up! Again... like nothing ever happened. WTF Charlene!
So is heat playing a role here in my intermittent problem? Maybe the control unit (the TP51 ECU) is getting hot and malfunctioning? It can't be the coil because it did the same thing with a brand new one. I don't see how the ECU could be getting all that "hot" way over there on the fender. Perhaps this weird changing in weather/temp lately is playing a role? (it's been real warm during the days up into the 80's (F) then dropping to the 40's (F) at night)
I'm going to buy one of those spark tester lights to eliminate the "no spark" from being a figment of my imagination for the next time she decides to not "put out" lol
So let me make a little list here of the things I've done/fixed/replaced on Charlene during the first two months of our relationship:
Purchased: 2/15/17 (the day after Valentine's Day - I'll always remember this day because it was the day the GF pointed out that instead of buying her something nice for V-day, I went and bought myself a Córdoba.......
(...and thus began the curse)
2/16/17 ~ 3/1/17
• New oil and filter - I plan on running conventional in her, but for the time being, I had a 5Qt jug of Mobil1 already in the garage, so I went with that for now. Bought a new Mobil1 filter.
• Replaced various bulbs
3/6/17
• Transmission rebuilt 2 yr/24k mile warranty
3/1/17 - 4/10/17
• Fuel Filter
• New Battery (the car had the wrong battery in it. Bought the correct one and upgraded to HD #27 version)
• Spark plugs (Champion copper plus)
• Wires
• Distributor cap & rotor
• Fixed speedometer (cable was loose behind cluster)
• New AC/Delco idler arm (tie rod ends are next, then wheel bearings, ball joints etc - all the fun stuff I know how to do!)
• Started using Non-ethanol fuel.
I guess the strategy here is to continue throwing parts at her. Next on the list is the ECU... (great price on those at NAPA - might just go ahead and get one to have just in case!) and then the pickup coil in the distro? I hear these are prone to failure as well.
What else is there? Thoughts?
Well, I get back and get everything installed. Yes, I have the FSM and carefully installed the wires in the correct 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order etc etc. Started her up and she was running great! I let her idle for a good 10-15 minutes and she suddenly stumbles and stalls. Tried to start her back up and nothing... this is when I decided to check for spark. None!
So I decided to replace the coil... figuring this car is 37 years old, and I'm most likely having multiple issues... the fuel issue seemed to be resolved, as she's been running great with me driving the car all around town all week. Now it could be something else. The "no spark" condition I observed led me to the coil conclusion, so I installed said new coil and still nothing. "Seemed like" I was still not getting any spark. (for the record, a couple weeks ago when I was having issues, I checked for spark and had plenty of spark/arc between the cable and the block when using the old school method)) So maybe the coil is getting hot - easy: replaced the coil.
For good measure, and because the coil clearly reads "use with external resistor" on it's label, I also replaced the resistor since it was only $5 and they had it in stock when I bought the new coil. Still nothing.. crank crank and crank, but no fire. It was at that point that I gave up for the day and went to bed... Took the GF's Honda to work Sunday for my double shift.
-Monday a.m.-
This morning I get in and turn the key and she starts right up! Again... like nothing ever happened. WTF Charlene!
So is heat playing a role here in my intermittent problem? Maybe the control unit (the TP51 ECU) is getting hot and malfunctioning? It can't be the coil because it did the same thing with a brand new one. I don't see how the ECU could be getting all that "hot" way over there on the fender. Perhaps this weird changing in weather/temp lately is playing a role? (it's been real warm during the days up into the 80's (F) then dropping to the 40's (F) at night)
I'm going to buy one of those spark tester lights to eliminate the "no spark" from being a figment of my imagination for the next time she decides to not "put out" lol
So let me make a little list here of the things I've done/fixed/replaced on Charlene during the first two months of our relationship:
Purchased: 2/15/17 (the day after Valentine's Day - I'll always remember this day because it was the day the GF pointed out that instead of buying her something nice for V-day, I went and bought myself a Córdoba.......
(...and thus began the curse)
2/16/17 ~ 3/1/17
• New oil and filter - I plan on running conventional in her, but for the time being, I had a 5Qt jug of Mobil1 already in the garage, so I went with that for now. Bought a new Mobil1 filter.
• Replaced various bulbs
3/6/17
• Transmission rebuilt 2 yr/24k mile warranty
3/1/17 - 4/10/17
• Fuel Filter
• New Battery (the car had the wrong battery in it. Bought the correct one and upgraded to HD #27 version)
• Spark plugs (Champion copper plus)
• Wires
• Distributor cap & rotor
• Fixed speedometer (cable was loose behind cluster)
• New AC/Delco idler arm (tie rod ends are next, then wheel bearings, ball joints etc - all the fun stuff I know how to do!)
• Started using Non-ethanol fuel.
I guess the strategy here is to continue throwing parts at her. Next on the list is the ECU... (great price on those at NAPA - might just go ahead and get one to have just in case!) and then the pickup coil in the distro? I hear these are prone to failure as well.
What else is there? Thoughts?
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