I am running the MSD ready to run system (dist and coil), all has been well for about the last 1700 miles. The other day i started the car and after bout 3 mins of warm up, car starts to sputter. I checked and fuel is not a problem. Pulled the plugs and they were black, next checked the voltage at the coil. Only about 3 volts. Ignition wire (new wiring) seems to be OK.

Any ideas ar am I goinng to have to chase this all the way back to the power?

289 4bl in 1965 fastback??

Thanks Oak

 

Start working your way upstream. You should get more like 7V, with the engine running above idle.

 

At the risk of posting something you already know and/or have already done,,,,

I think the MSD will want a full 12V, the RESISTOR WIRE under the dash has to be replaced to accomplish this.

 

Maybe, but that doesn't explain 3V.

 

I appreciate all suggestions, and you are correct the MSD wants 12!! I replaced the resistor wire under the dash during restore, thats what I will check tomorrow, I have a suspicion the stereo guy may have damaged it? Too tired to crawl under there today, will check/replace that tomorrow.

Oak

 

A bad resistor could easily put out 3 volts or anywhere between 12 and 0 for that matter.

 

as said before, work your way from coil+ towards the ignition switch.
check what else is connected to coil+, might be somethig that shouldn't be there.
check as well the connector at firewall. might be full of crap/rust.

 

Ok I checked backwards from coil. The new wire harness from the plug in the firewall was first. I stripped the ignition wire from the coil back. No voltage at all. I unplugged the plug on the firewall and tested the plug hole where the otherside of the plug (Ignition wire) was. It read 12 volts................so I clipped the ignition wire on the engine side and ran a test wire to the coil. It measured just under 12 volts. I thought i had it licked!

i put it all back together and tested the coil with ignition on and registered about 10.9 volts. Car started right up ran great. Tested the volts at the coil and only registered 7 volts, nigh and low revs never went up.

Took the car for a test run and got about 2 miles away, stalled on me. Stupid me left the tool box at home. I pushed it to the curb. I tried to start it and just crank crank crank as if there was no fuel, but I could smell it so there obviously was not enough spark.

I let it sit and after crank crank crank it started and I got it home. ( I think it was the stored energy in the coil that got me home?)

Anyway...pulled into garage it ran for about 30 more seconds and died. Measured volts again with ignition on and again 10.9 volts but car still wont start, only 7 at coil again.

I am losing volts somewhere? Any ideas.

Again MSD ready to run with Blaster 2 coil on 1965 289 4 bbl. Had run great for previous 1700 miles? Thanks Oak

 

Sounds like you didn't bypass the resistor wire or something. I'm also not sure 10.9 volts at the coil is high enough, I would expect more like 13-14, but maybe there's a reason I don't know about.

Good luck with it, and remember to tell us what the final solution is when you find it.

 

Bypassed the resistor wire during restore, when it was easy to get to before the instument cluster was installed. I am trying to keep from takin all that apart again. I have 12 volts at the plug on the engine side of the fire wall. I plugged in the engine side of the harness and I have now cut the ignition wire within 2 inches of the plug. So before plug is plugged in the female part of the plug measures 12.4. After i plug in the harness and measure the ignition wire I have cut to 2 inches only reads 10.4.

Maybe a harness plug gone bad? Next is a wire straight from that plug to the coil........UGHHHHH
Keep you posted Oak