starting problems
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 382
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From: Chicago
starting problems
So I drove the truck this morning and then parked it in the garage (8am). This afternoon I was going to come out and tune it a little because it was giving me some hesitation when accelerating but it wont start. I checked and it is getting gas and I know the time is right because it was running this morning and I have not touch anything. I am working by myself so I am having a hard time checking to see if I am getting spark. I am running the flamethrower III and the Ignitor III, it has brand new (three weeks ago) plugs and wires. I had a faulty Ignitor the first time and have been told that almost never happens, could it have happened to me twice? <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=smalltxt vAlign=top>wife came home and had her crank it and I had the timing light on the spark wires and nothing. Then put it on the coil to dizzy wire and nothing, this method works right? I can use this to know that I have no spark coming from the coil correct. I checked the coil and it is working so I am thinking that the ignitor is crapped out on me again. Any thoughts?
sorry about the different fonts but I posted this on the y-block site also and didnt want to write it again and this is what I got when I cut and pasted it.
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sorry about the different fonts but I posted this on the y-block site also and didnt want to write it again and this is what I got when I cut and pasted it.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 907
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From: Kansas City, Mo
Need more system info, engine etc.
Fuel, air, spark. You said your down to spark. The starter works because it turns over, you have 6 or 12 volts and a ground from batt to the engine. So it's between the input to the coil and the sparkplugs. You worked in that area last. Check all wires and connections for something loose or off. Rubber glove or tool and hold sparkplug wire about 1/8 inch off the plug or other metal to observe a spark or not( need to rotate starter to check this). Do you have a fuse box to check for a blown fuse. You need a meter to check voltages. Check coil input 6 or 12VDC. Use ohm part of meter to check coil windings. Do you have a wiring diagram? Eliminate each component in turn. chuck
Fuel, air, spark. You said your down to spark. The starter works because it turns over, you have 6 or 12 volts and a ground from batt to the engine. So it's between the input to the coil and the sparkplugs. You worked in that area last. Check all wires and connections for something loose or off. Rubber glove or tool and hold sparkplug wire about 1/8 inch off the plug or other metal to observe a spark or not( need to rotate starter to check this). Do you have a fuse box to check for a blown fuse. You need a meter to check voltages. Check coil input 6 or 12VDC. Use ohm part of meter to check coil windings. Do you have a wiring diagram? Eliminate each component in turn. chuck
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Chicago
Sorry, it is a 292. I am getting fuel and air but no spark. The starter works just fine and it is a 12v system with no fuse box. I already check the coil with the meter and everything is good there, this is why I think it is the ignitor. Is using the timing light on each spark wire not a good method? I did no new work on the truck, it was running for the past 3 weeks or so and ran this morning with nothing changing between starts. I already wrote the petronix guys in hopes that they can help but I think that I am just unlucky enough to get another bad one. Just crazy that it worked for a while and then quit. I though this was the reason to go to the ignitor over the points, to avoid being stranded. Any other ideas or info needed?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Chicago
I am thinking of going with the MSD distributor, it is a lot of money but I have not heard anything bad about them. This might be because nobody wants to spend this much money but I really want to not worry about being stranded. Anybody have anything to say about the MSD distributor?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 394
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From: Springfield, Il
Putting the timing light pickup on the #1 wire (passenger front) is where it goes. As far as the MSD dist. I had one on my 351C, it was a good dist. but you have to have a very good alternator to supply steady juice to it. If not it will miss and backfire. I ended up going back to stock, ran 100% better. An older guy I know that races mustangs told me that if your not racing do not use the aftermarket performance equipment. I put everything back to stock, including the points in the stock dist. and it ran way better for me. Just my opinion about aftermarket parts.
Good luck
Good luck
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Senior User
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From: Chicago
I emailed the company that I bought the ignitor from and the guy there has been great, he says I can send it back and either get another one or my money back. He seems to feel bad about getting two bad ones, again I though and he thinks these things are bullet proof but I have had two bad ones already. I think I might take my money and put it toward the MSD distributor which has the built in electronic ignition. Not that I think I would get a third bad one but just for piece of mind at this point. I think I would start to be afraid to drive it places that I thought I might get stuck. Anybody have a bad experience with MSD?
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From: webster wi
whats up pull the cap and make sure the rotors turning when you shut them off is when the timeing gears or chain breaks
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From: Comox Valley, Canada
Just my 2 cents 
Using the timing light on each lead is a great way to see if voltage is heading to the plug...... so if no flashing on any sparkplug wire pulling the cap to see if the rotor turns is the next step, as needhelp49 said.....
Using the timing light on each lead is a great way to see if voltage is heading to the plug...... so if no flashing on any sparkplug wire pulling the cap to see if the rotor turns is the next step, as needhelp49 said.....
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Chicago
rotor worked just fine, cap was in good shape (its new it should be). I feel like it has to be the ignitor. I think the MSD distributor is the way to go, just waiting to hear from MSD that it will work with the flamethrower III and no resistor.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,525
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From: oh
I just bought an ignitor for my 272 y block.....and IT DOESN'T FIT? IAM PISSED....WHAT TO DO NOW? IHOPE SOMEONE AT PERTRONIX FIGURES THIS OUT!!!
Iam starting to think that points are not so bad after all.......Bill
Iam starting to think that points are not so bad after all.......Bill
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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From: Sugar Land & Bandera, TX
I had this issue too. The problem is when the distributor is replaced. The replacement ones from Ford/Motorcraft for the 272 are actually the ones used in later years. I found this out the hard way too. I was fortunate the guy on Ebay who I got mine from was cool and just replaced it.
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Senior User
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From: Chicago
Mine fits and worked for a short while but stopped. I am almost positive I will get the MSD distributor that is ready to run out of the box. I am just waiting for them to get back to me that it is compatible with the flamethrower III and no resistor. TxF100, I must of bought from the same guy on ebay because he has been very cool about everything so far.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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I had a bad Ignitor II a few years ago. I went back to points because I know I could trust them. I don't think the points will ever leave you stranded but every so often you need to reset them, and it only takes about 5 mins.
On all of the various message boards that I'm on, I hear a lot about these Ignitors just crapping out one day out of the blue. Maybe we don't ever hear about them when they are working fine but it seems like there's about a 25% chance of one working reliably.
On all of the various message boards that I'm on, I hear a lot about these Ignitors just crapping out one day out of the blue. Maybe we don't ever hear about them when they are working fine but it seems like there's about a 25% chance of one working reliably.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: denver
I've been running Petronix on my '49 for about 6 or 7 years now--no problems at all. Starts first time every time--I notice a lot better instant response than with points.
It took me a long time to completly trust it though, and I still keep a spare dizzy in the box in the trunk with points.
I have heard, however that leaving the key on for extended periods of time with out the engine running will toast em. Also any kind of backwards hooking or surging will waste em in a hurry...slim
It took me a long time to completly trust it though, and I still keep a spare dizzy in the box in the trunk with points.
I have heard, however that leaving the key on for extended periods of time with out the engine running will toast em. Also any kind of backwards hooking or surging will waste em in a hurry...slim