blown 87

Then start at the primary side of the coil, make sure it has what it needs before going any further on the secondary side for a no/weak spark condition.

IrishLegend

Thanks

IrishLegend

A quick review:

Well in the last couple days I've changed the plugs, rotor and cap and was wondering why no start. I then moved the timing about a millimeter and it started right up. I then drove a couple miles down the road and it cutoff. I had to call a tow truck to get ger home. I then cleaned the ground points and checked the relays and fuses again. I tried again and it just wouldn't turn over and started going click, click, click. I then hooked up a battery charger to jump it and when the charger said to try it I did and it started!

I checked with a voltage meter while running and it was reading 12.9/13.0 volts. I spoke w/Mark Robinson and he said that he has had a problem in the past w/the wire from the alternator to the battery that went bad. He said the alternator was still good but the wire had a short or just went faulty. He said that he had to bypass the wire so that the alternator would keep the battery charged. Mark said that may have been why I broke down, because the battery was running everything and lost it's charge.

Any thoughts?

I appreciate all the help guys.

Landseer

If battery is low they won't start.
How old is yours?
I just replaced one, full sized, less than 2 yrs old. NAPA Interstate. Charged according to meter, but had very little threshold for use before it was sub-usable in charge. Happened in the 86. Moved it to the 84 5 speed, a known no-draw-when-off car, and it screwed up there. Jettisoned it Monday.


Sounds like its charging based on meter. When mine aren't charging, they are down near 10/11.

Advance Auto can put an analyzer on battery and rate condition.


You cleaned 14 pin connector and jump post, right?

IrishLegend

Thanks.

pcar928fan

Sorry I missed your call today Bri. The phone didn't even ring! What up wit dat?!

Glad it is running. I was going to tell you to start messing with wires while it is running to see if you can make it die again...green wire...whatever. Just move some stuff around and see if it will die on you again.

I hope cleaning the grounds and messing with it a bit was all it needed! That would be nice!

blown 87

Check for voltage drop at the other end of the wire, it could be a deal like some of the VW POS Tourage.

I would also think that if it was a voltage problem with the no spark/weak spark you would have found that when sorting out at the coils.
What was the voltage?

Landseer

Careful, hot wires there, disconnect bat.

The jump post unscrews with an 11mm wrench, has hot leads under it of course.

14 pin connector is a press fit, but top and bottom halves also have covers that can be snapped off to reveal the solder joints. I'll find a link to the photo of Jadz928 and I fixing one. But I don't expect this is your problem for some reason.

Excitor wire is in #1 slot. Does your alternator charge light (red) come on ever? Starting or while running?

IrishLegend

I've never seen an alternator red light before.

Forgive my ignorance but what is the excitor wire?

blown 87

The exciter wire supplies voltage for a magnetic field so the alternator can start to produce voltage, once "Excited" and turning it is self sustaining.

karl ruiter

If the battery is not charging it will run for a while, until the battery looses enough charge that it will not run the injection or ignition. Sure could be one of your issues.

IrishLegend

Just drove her a couple miles and the battery stayed at 13 volts! I am carrying a jump starter and extension cord until I know it's okay for sure.
Thanks for all the advice guys.

pcar928fan

NICE!!! We still kind of need to keep an eye on it (as you are doing) so we can actually FIX the problem! My '81 has done that to the guy borrowing it TWICE in the last year...he would be driving down the road and the car would just die... He would pull it over and each time after some time had past it would start right up again... CRAZY STUFF these 928's!

IrishLegend

I think my battery was down from me trying it so many times. I definately need to keep an eye on the volts!

Landseer

All sounds good right now.

How about the oil leak? Where are we on that?