Ok guys need some help on getting it started

[66horse]

Just got my ne w(rebuilt) engine in last weekend. Wednesday she fired up and ran. Now she won't start. It wants to start, in fact it sounds like it when you turn it over. As soon as you let off on the key, it dies. If you hold the key in the start position, it will run.<br><br>Almost seems to me like maybe the switch is bad. that maybe I am losing spark when I let off on the key. It doesn't sputter when you let off, it just quits going.<br><br>Any suggestions? How do I test the switch. Also, the stereo and everyhting work with the key in the on position. So Ithink this goes against my thoughts.<br><br>Any help would be greatly appreciated.<br><br>Thanks!<br>Steve

 

[Allen_69]

What kind of coil and dist. are you running, in the stock 302 points system the wire to the dist. has a ballast resistor. The only time it give a true 12V to the coil is during crank. Most newer ignitions (duraspark hei mallory etc. ) require you to change the wire to a standard wire rather than a resistance type.

 

[66horse]

Allen, running Duraspark. But ran Duraspark before on last engine. All wiring and distributor, etc.. have not changed.

 

[74bronc]

Steve,<br><br>I dealt with the exact same problemo that you descibe on my buddies 73 about 4 years ago. Here is what it was with his. not sure if you will find the same thing. His would fire only while cranking but as soon as you would let off the key, it would die. There was no way for us to keep it running. I replaced the starter solenoid, checked the coil and all that crapola. What we found was there is the big fat resistance wire that comes off the back of the ignition switch. It goes over to the coil and drops the voltage down. His wire had been cut and then jerry rigged back together. the jerry-rigging didn't hold and there was a bad connection in there. You might want to check that wire over really carefully to make sure it is intact. The other thing you might want to check is the connections at the duraspark harness. I know one wire is hot in crank and another is hot in run. Maybe there is a problem powering the box in when the ignition is in the run position but it is working right in the start position. I am just thinking out loud here since I am bored at work. Good luck!

 

[Allen_69]

I'd start out checking the voltage going to the coil in both the start and the run position. It should be 12V in both cases. If it's not it's wiring/ignition sw. if you have a good 12V I'd go with the coil.

 

[66horse]

Thanks guys, I will take a look at that stuff.

 

[66horse]

Alright guys! Got it running. here is what I did. Unplugged all the plugs for ignition module and plugged them back in. then i discovered the coil wires were not tightened down on the coil. tightened them down and she started right up! Thanks for the help!<br><br>Steve

 

[74bronc]

kewl ;D

 

[Broncmeister]

another bronco lives! IT'S ALIVE! mhhhoowah hah hah