suddenly won't start

[TulsaSpider]

Ok..... I spent about 3 hours today putting my center console back together, checking wiring etc... everything worked hazard, courtesy light, cigarrette lighter, radio... I was quite happy with myself, sweaty and tired. I tried to start the engine and it just turned over, didn't try to hit, getting gas, but weak spark.. I noticed that the lights for oil pressure and something else were illuminated about that time. So I figured I must've screwed something up!! So I dismantled all that work and tried it again....same thing.....

There is power to the coil and I tested the points power with a light and I have power to 1 set of points. The set that is closest to the firewall. I havdn't tested them like this before so I don't know if I was getting power before.

It started right up before this, what the heck did I do??? I am gonna go back down and check the connection to the condensor on that side that I replaced both of them last week.... AAAAARGH!!!

My GF just got back in town and I was looking forward to a great cruise!!

[rlux4]

Did you check all the fuses Clark? I don't know about your '78, but my '82 has an inline fuse that is ignition related. Being FI it's not the same as yours, but I'm thinking because you were working on or around a lot of wires, maybe a fuse got blown and it's not getting 12V power to the dist.
I'll see if I can find something in Artigue's wiring diagrams.
Ron

[TulsaSpider]

I did pop a few fuses fo sho! I re wired and cleaned the points put it back together and it started right up. Maybe I had the point hot somehow since there were the 2 indicator lights on and wouldn't go off no matter what I did. So it's running well again... I just don't know what I did wrong, dang that was a lot of work wasted!!
But I am relieved!!
Clark

[rlux4]

That's all well and good, but did you get it done in time to cruise with your Swedish babe?
Ron

[pope]

LOL, I thought that GF was Grandfather!!!!!!!!!!

[TulsaSpider]

We definately had a great night! maybe too great!

So the real question now is how in the heck did I energize the ignition by hooking up the hazards etc... I was thinking last night I saw a jumper wire that for some reason goes from the back of the ignition switch to a flasher just behind the ignition, I haven't had the chance or the reason to bother it yet. Anyone know why there could/would be a jumper at this location?
Clark

[rlux4]

Clark, the power for your two flasher units should come from the fuse panel (#1 and 10). Could it be that the PO ran a "hot" line to the flasher because there was a problem with the emer. flasher switch? The power goes through it first, so in order for the flashers to work, the emer. flasher switch has to be good. If it's not good, a lot of PO bypass it and get power to the flasher(s) some other way. My car had the connector on the back of the switch unhooked and jumpered to get the blinkers to work. When I replaced the emer. flasher switch the problem was solved. If your jumper from the back of the ign. switch is on a wire that's ignition related, the power would be going through the flashers when you go to start the car.

Ron

[TulsaSpider]

Hmmm Thanks Ron. The switch itself worked fine yesterday, however all of that was disconnected when I got the car, so perhaps that was the PO's "fix" to get the blinkers to work because the emegency flashers wrer disconnected. So I am going to disconnect that jumper, and as long as my blinkers work I am good to go right? It kinda makes sense cause the flashers have hot power all the time, and the jumper from the signal flasher (I'm assuming that's what it is) energized the ignition and prolly fried the points some while I was working on it all that time. Man I really hate points!
What about only having power to one set of points, do they not come from the same place? Maybe I just couldn't get a good enough bite on it to get my test light to light....???

[TulsaSpider]

That's what it must have been. I reconnected everything and disconnected that jumper. The signals flashers all now work and the warning lights are no longer lit up. I even have a radio now! very cheap late 80's with cassettte that No one would want to steal!!
I am still curious about my previous question on the points !
Thanks
Clark

[rlux4]

I don't have points luckily. There has been discussions about running on one set of points, I even seem to recall So Cal Mark saying he leaves the 2nd set in as a spare back up if something happens to the ones being used. Maybe do a search on "points" and you can find it.
Glad you got the car going good. Now you can concentrate on your Swedish Sweetie.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

yes, I use the 2nd set of points as a spare set and merely have to switch the wires over if needed. There is 5 degree difference in timing when switching points, but that won't keep the engine from starting or running just fine in an emergency

[TulsaSpider]

So there is no disadvantage then? better cold weasther starts perhaps? I wonder why I'm not getting power to one set? Perhaps this is why when I timed it a while back it ran worse, then I just timed it by ear and now it runs great!
Clark

[So Cal Mark]

you will only have power to one set at any time.