It Just Died

Elvis · 12-10-2005, 05:37 PM

Help, I was idling along a busy street this afternoon in my '67 and the engine just died - no sputtering or anything - it just died. When I opened the hood to check the connections etc I noticed that the coil (my new Flamethrower II) was so hot I couldn't touch it. The tow truck driver said that maybe the coil was not making a ground. Any ideas as to what I should try. It's my daily driver so I need to get it going. Thanks. E.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 12-10-2005, 11:02 PM

Hook a timing light up to the "coil to cap" spark plug wire and try cranking it...

No flash means no spark... That way you know your problem is with the coil or before it...

Also, if you have a tachometer hooked up, check the wire to make sure it didn't short out anywhere, which will kill the engine. May as well check out that Pertronix ignition to make sure no wires are accidentally grounded to the distributor body.

Elvis · 12-11-2005, 08:05 AM

OK, thanks. Is it normal for the coil to get so hot? E.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 12-11-2005, 01:12 PM

To be honest, I've always had them bolted to the engine, so I haven't made a habit of touching them after the engine has been running for any length of time, becuase I figured they would be blistering...

Gearhead999 · 12-11-2005, 04:20 PM

Coils get hot.

Elvis · 12-11-2005, 06:26 PM

The saga continues. I changed the coil just in case and it would still not fire. So I pulled the coil wire out 3/4 inch and had my wife try to start it to see if I would get spark. Well all I got was a loud POP from the battery/could have been from the starter solinoid and then it would not turn over any more. I took the battery to Auto Zone and they said it still has a good charge. I suspect that my wiring is to blame. The wires that go from the firewall to the coil/heat and oil gauges is brittle and cracked - possibly original. I have new wiring that I will install. Did I blow the starter solinoid? Any other ideas? E.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 12-11-2005, 07:54 PM

Try by passing the solenoid with a set of heavy gloves, a vice grip and some goggles...

Unbolt the wire that runs to the starter from the solenoid, grab the end with a vice grips, and carefully but forcefully touch it to the positive termnial of the battery.

If it cranks, you know it is the solenoid. If not, it may be a bad battery to ground wire.

Elvis · 12-13-2005, 04:59 PM

OK, problem solved! The solenoid had blown so I changed it. The engine would crank then but still no ignition. I changed the Pertronix ignition module and VOILA! Runs like a charm. E.

Phillyfanfrombirth · 12-13-2005, 06:02 PM

Good to hear, Elvis...

Elvis · 12-13-2005, 09:06 PM

Alright, I am now back in operation but I do still have a question. I did not really enjoy having my car die on the busiest street in town on the busiest shopping day and blocking traffic while I tried to get a tow truck. The Pertronix ignition module died after about six years of good service. Is this the usual life span? Is there a way of determining if it is about to fail? Is it just a crap shoot whether it will fail in one year or ten years? Should I plan on changing it after 4-5 years or should I just wait until it fails and risk getting stuck again? I guess the point is that I have lost confidence in it although perhaps that is not fair. Unfortunately Pertronix does not yet have a Tech Support service on their web site so I can't ask them. Any insight would be appreciated. E.

roper racing 03 · 12-27-2005, 05:39 PM

the only time one of my coils has gotten burning hot was after it blew up. we figured out that we didnt wire it through a resistor so it got too much juice and blew the oil all over the place. do you have yours running through a resistor

Elvis · 12-28-2005, 08:14 PM

Actually I don't. But after changing the electronic ignition module and getting the car going I put the coil that I thought was hot back in and it works fine. It is the Flamethrower II coil. I suppose they do get hot as they are bolted onto the block. It was just that I had never touched one after the engine had been running for a while so I was not sure that it was normal or unusual. Oh well, I am back in operation and all is well with the world. E.

12-10-2005, 05:37 PM	#1
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	It Just Died Help, I was idling along a busy street this afternoon in my '67 and the engine just died - no sputtering or anything - it just died. When I opened the hood to check the connections etc I noticed that the coil (my new Flamethrower II) was so hot I couldn't touch it. The tow truck driver said that maybe the coil was not making a ground. Any ideas as to what I should try. It's my daily driver so I need to get it going. Thanks. E.

12-10-2005, 11:02 PM	#2
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: It Just Died Hook a timing light up to the "coil to cap" spark plug wire and try cranking it... No flash means no spark... That way you know your problem is with the coil or before it... Also, if you have a tachometer hooked up, check the wire to make sure it didn't short out anywhere, which will kill the engine. May as well check out that Pertronix ignition to make sure no wires are accidentally grounded to the distributor body.

12-11-2005, 08:05 AM	#3
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	Re: It Just Died OK, thanks. Is it normal for the coil to get so hot? E.

12-11-2005, 01:12 PM	#4
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: It Just Died To be honest, I've always had them bolted to the engine, so I haven't made a habit of touching them after the engine has been running for any length of time, becuase I figured they would be blistering...

12-11-2005, 04:20 PM	#5
Gearhead999 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Oviedo, FL Posts: 992	Re: It Just Died Coils get hot. __________________ "Support our Troops" Dave 1968 Cougar 2004 Thunderbird 2007 F150 Harley-Davidson, SuperCrew 1986 LTD 1997 Ranger 1992 Honda Civic

12-11-2005, 06:26 PM	#6
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	Re: It Just Died The saga continues. I changed the coil just in case and it would still not fire. So I pulled the coil wire out 3/4 inch and had my wife try to start it to see if I would get spark. Well all I got was a loud POP from the battery/could have been from the starter solinoid and then it would not turn over any more. I took the battery to Auto Zone and they said it still has a good charge. I suspect that my wiring is to blame. The wires that go from the firewall to the coil/heat and oil gauges is brittle and cracked - possibly original. I have new wiring that I will install. Did I blow the starter solinoid? Any other ideas? E.

12-11-2005, 07:54 PM	#7
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: It Just Died Try by passing the solenoid with a set of heavy gloves, a vice grip and some goggles... Unbolt the wire that runs to the starter from the solenoid, grab the end with a vice grips, and carefully but forcefully touch it to the positive termnial of the battery. If it cranks, you know it is the solenoid. If not, it may be a bad battery to ground wire.

12-13-2005, 04:59 PM	#8
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	Re: It Just Died OK, problem solved! The solenoid had blown so I changed it. The engine would crank then but still no ignition. I changed the Pertronix ignition module and VOILA! Runs like a charm. E.

12-13-2005, 06:02 PM	#9
Phillyfanfrombirth Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Central PA Posts: 358	Re: It Just Died Good to hear, Elvis...

12-13-2005, 09:06 PM	#10
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	Re: It Just Died Alright, I am now back in operation but I do still have a question. I did not really enjoy having my car die on the busiest street in town on the busiest shopping day and blocking traffic while I tried to get a tow truck. The Pertronix ignition module died after about six years of good service. Is this the usual life span? Is there a way of determining if it is about to fail? Is it just a crap shoot whether it will fail in one year or ten years? Should I plan on changing it after 4-5 years or should I just wait until it fails and risk getting stuck again? I guess the point is that I have lost confidence in it although perhaps that is not fair. Unfortunately Pertronix does not yet have a Tech Support service on their web site so I can't ask them. Any insight would be appreciated. E.

12-27-2005, 05:39 PM	#11
roper racing 03 the south will rise again Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: batesville Indiana Posts: 13	Re: It Just Died the only time one of my coils has gotten burning hot was after it blew up. we figured out that we didnt wire it through a resistor so it got too much juice and blew the oil all over the place. do you have yours running through a resistor

12-28-2005, 08:14 PM	#12
Elvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 188	Re: It Just Died Actually I don't. But after changing the electronic ignition module and getting the car going I put the coil that I thought was hot back in and it works fine. It is the Flamethrower II coil. I suppose they do get hot as they are bolted onto the block. It was just that I had never touched one after the engine had been running for a while so I was not sure that it was normal or unusual. Oh well, I am back in operation and all is well with the world. E.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Don Vesco Died	PKRWUD	Blue Oval Lounge	8	12-22-2002 05:25 PM
Our APC died	The Deuce	Blue Oval Lounge	10	08-24-2002 12:46 PM
She finally died!!	bigred90gt	Windsor Power	1	08-10-2002 04:40 PM
Linda Lovelace Died!	PKRWUD	Blue Oval Lounge	27	04-27-2002 01:40 AM
My dog died last night. (2-15-01)	Fox Body	Blue Oval Lounge	15	02-20-2001 08:01 PM