Ignition Question - I'm sure this a rookie thing

[ntheyer]

I have a 1987 Merc 470. Everything was running before, but I changed to new plugs, points condenser and cap. Kept the old wires. Everthing else really needed to be changed, but like I said, it ran. Once I put everything else in, it won't start now.<br /><br />I followed the troubleshooting and I have no spark at all. If I follow the flow chart correctly it says the desitributor is shorted. What does that mean? How do I unshort the distributor then?? I even changed back to the old condenser, but no go. It started up fince before, now no spark..<br /><br />When I pull the coil wire off the center of the distributor cap and crank, no spark.<br /><br />When I disconnect the negative coild wire and turn the ignition on, there is 12 volts coming from the negative to a ground. In the flow chart this says then distributor short.<br /><br />Any help here? This must be some dumb, little thing.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[challenger]

Re: Ignition Question - I'm sure this a rookie thing

Hi did you check the rotor in the distributor.? And if you took it out are you sure its back in place correctly? I have had a rotor that did not turn with the distributor shaft.<br />Also did you set the gap on the points?<br />Good luck

 

[ntheyer]

Re: Ignition Question - I'm sure this a rookie thing

Yes, rotor is replaced. Gap is set.<br /><br />Update... I got it running. I was messing around with the black wire leading from the points to the coil. There is a little metal clip around this wire and there is also a little black rubber grommet. If the metal clip touches the distributor, will that short it out? Is the metal clip/ring supposed to go in the rubber grommet?<br /><br />I've gotten it running a few times now. But when I shut it off to adjust dwell, it does not start again.. it seems pretty random.. It will work five times, and then not again unitl I fool around with the wire a bit? This sure seems weird to me. Thanks.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Ignition Question - I'm sure this a rookie thing

If you think it is the wire just pull in a new wire. Nothing special about that wire. Are you sure you have it and the condenser hooked the the right lug on the points spring. If the wire is broken it will not run. If the wire is shorted to ground it will not run. Another common problem is the high tension wire from the center of the cap to the coil could be open.<br /><br />To test with out running pull the cap and pull the high tension lead out of the center of the cap. Position it within 1/2 inch of a ground or attach to a ground spark plug. Turn the engine to where the points are closed and turn the key on. With a insusated screw driver or popsicle stick open and close the points. You should get a spark each time.

 

[hoot]

Re: Ignition Question - I'm sure this a rookie thing

my black wire also has the metal clip. on my boat, the clip fits into a slot on the distributor base plate, possibly to hold it in place so it doesn't get tangled in the rotor.