likaleica Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Belated Happy New Year to everyone! My 39 Plymouth drove into my garage a couple of months back just fine - nothing has been touched since but she now mysteriously refuses to start! All advice gratefully received....... I've checked Distributor cap (brand new) Rotor arm (brand new) Sprayed ignition leads (virtually new Bougiecord) with water repellant spray Cleaned spark plugs Checked for spark at every plug Removed carb float chamber cover and poured in brand new Premium Unleaded (in case the gasoline had got old) I'm not familiar with 6 volt systems but the spark at the plugs looked rather yellow in color and not the white/blue you get with 12 volt coils. Is this normal for my car ? How can I check the coil is delivering enough power ? Any other suggestions why the old girl just won't fire up ?! Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 try cleaning your points....careful not to leave a residue on the surfaces... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpollo Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Some no starts, after a period of idleness, and particularly when the engine seems to be trying but not quite making it, are the result of low compression. After sitting, the rings, if worn, may not be giving a good seal. Put a little oil into each cylinder and try again. If all else fails , a push start will bring it to life. I had one case where the exhaust system had been blocked by mud wasps which is pretty unlikely in your case. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 I went to pick up a bunch of Jensen Interceptor spares and while there I noticed that the owner had several nice cars sitting in storage and each exhaust pipe had a scouring pad as pictured below placed to prevent intrusion of mud nest builders and mice of various sizes..a definite ounce of prevent over the pound of cure... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amway-Legacy-of-Clean-Scrub-Buds-Scouring-Pads-4-Pads-/281775173954?hash=item419b1bf142:g:VGQAAOSwv0tVbFrW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Thanks guys - I'll try the points cleaning and the oil down the bores....... Do I take it that the yellowish spark from a poor coil is not a likely contender for the culprit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldSmith Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 If the points don't point so good, maybe the spark won't spark so good. There was a recent thread about cars that "ran when parked" but a few months later wouldn't start. Cleaning the points with a file was the cure. (Not sandpaper, which could leave an abrasive residue.) I guess if the points are open when the car is parked, they could get some corrosion. Filing the points is less work than swapping coils. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Points dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knuckleharley Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 The first thing I would do would be to disconnect and clean all the ignition ground connections. If it seems to be cranking slower than usual and the cables seem hot,clean the battery posts,the battery cables,and the positive ground at that battery cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharps40 Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) After a long sit, we always jumped em with a 12 volt battery removed from another car. Usually kicks em right off, never hurt anything. Edited January 25, 2016 by Sharps40 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niel Hoback Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Just don't turn the lights and radio on when you crank it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Lots of good ideas here, thank you fellas - off into the garage to try them one by one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharps40 Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) And, after we got tired of hard starting with a 6 volt battery, or when the battery went bad, the perminant fix (back in the days before 12v conversions were popular and affordable) we dropped in an 8v battery and tweaked the regulator up a touch to keep it charged. Made all the difference, especially with cold morning December starts. 8 was much more reliable for starting than 6 and the 6v generator with tweaked regulator was very reliable for keepin it full charged. But.....dunno if there even is such a thing as an 8v car battery these days. And no, 8v did not hurt the wiring, 6v lights, heater fan, etc........ Edited January 25, 2016 by Sharps40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper50 Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 http://www.bonanza.com/listings/NEW-Interstate-8V-8-Volt-Golf-Cart-Battery-Battery-Deep-Cycle-EzGo-Club-Car-RV/269350766?gpid=76983190141&gpkwd=&goog_pla=1&gclid=CJXdi_LsxMoCFVFffgodY5cI1g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captden29 Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I used to park my 51 buick in the base fenced area for people on deployment. when I would come back almost a year later I would jump it with a 12 volt and it would finally start.then throw the 6 volt back in and off I would go.i always tear off a piece of a matchbook cover, put a little oil on it and put it between the points when the car is stored. always starts up.in those days I never used any gas storage stuff, but no ethanol in the gas then. capt den Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Like the 8 volt idea - an "old school" mechanic I know also said that - and I'm sure I can get an 8v battery in the UK. The trick with the oiled matchbook between the points is also definitely worth a try ! The car still would not start yesterday - though it did run for about 2 seconds before cutting out. I'd carried out the following suggestions: Cleaned and Vaselined the battery terminals/leads (they are NOT getting hot) Filed the points, cleaned with gasoline, checked the gap Next I will try jumping with my 12v car battery. Am I correct that at the Plymouth end the positive lead should be connected to earth and not to the positive battery terminal ? Or is that only if I am jumping with the donor vehicle engine running ? If sticky piston rings are to blame, I'd appreciate advice on what sort of oil should put down the bores and how I avoid oil fouling the spark plugs when cranking. Thanks again everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Balazs Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 A couple of suggestions. Have you checked the quality of the spark you are getting? It is worth checking. A simple test can tell you a lot. How about the condenser? Hth; Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 How about that little wire next to the condenser shorting out when the advance kicks in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normanpitkin Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Check the leads to all the plugs AND to the coil? Am in Colchester by the way ,cannot be too far from you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Check the leads to all the plugs AND to the coil? Am in Colchester by the way ,cannot be too far from you! Hi - yes I am near Sudbury, Have checked all the leads both ends and the HT to the coil. When I removed the plugs to check the spark it did look a bit yellow - but then I am used to the white/blue of a 12 volt spark....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 A couple of suggestions. Have you checked the quality of the spark you are getting? It is worth checking. A simple test can tell you a lot. How about the condenser? Hth; Jeff Thanks Jeff - the spark did look a bit yellow. I'm not much of an auto electrician - any idea what reading I'd expect using a multimeter to check the coil - and also how would I check the condenser? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I am not trying to pigeon hole here, but don't you live in a perpetually damp environment over in Old Blighty? Maybe your body and engine grounds need refreshed so that you have the least resistance possible......get down to bare metal and use star washers to BITE into your contact points and use dielectric grease to on your connections to forestall corrosion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverdome Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 When you use a 12V to jump the 6V jump it + to + and - to - and do not have the 12V car running, then disconnect cables as soon as the 6V car starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I am not trying to pigeon hole here, but don't you live in a perpetually damp environment over in Old Blighty? Maybe your body and engine grounds need refreshed so that you have the least resistance possible......get down to bare metal and use star washers to BITE into your contact points and use dielectric grease to on your connections to forestall corrosion. Yes you're dead right about our climate - very good suggestion! Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Balazs Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Thanks Jeff - the spark did look a bit yellow. I'm not much of an auto electrician - any idea what reading I'd expect using a multimeter to check the coil - and also how would I check the condenser? Remember that the voltage to the spark plugs is on the order of 20,000 volts. One of my favorite tools is an adjustable gap spark tester. This little $10 tool is available at most motorcycle shops. If your system is working properly you should be able to get it to jump a gap of about a quarter of an inch. You can also make a tester from an old plug with the gap opened up. Either way these simple little tools will give you the answer you need to move forward with confidence. When I first started using these I was proving out a Lucas magneto on an AJS 500. If one of those sketchy beasts will produce a spark good enough to jump a 1/4" then so should the powered up system in your car. Jeff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likaleica Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Remember that the voltage to the spark plugs is on the order of 20,000 volts. One of my favorite tools is an adjustable gap spark tester. This little $10 tool is available at most motorcycle shops. If your system is working properly you should be able to get it to jump a gap of about a quarter of an inch. You can also make a tester from an old plug with the gap opened up. Either way these simple little tools will give you the answer you need to move forward with confidence. When I first started using these I was proving out a Lucas magneto on an AJS 500. If one of those sketchy beasts will produce a spark good enough to jump a 1/4" then so should the powered up system in your car. Jeff Excellent - thanks Jeff. I've been sidelined on this project a couple of days now by a four letter word ending in "K" - no, not what you may be thinking - I'm referring to WORK of course ! Once that's off my back I'll try to get hold of that little gadget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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