Ignition spark |
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M-code Montego
New Member Joined: 23-February-2014 Location: Newport Beach Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Posted: 01-June-2014 at 10:34AM |
I'll try to keep it short:
My Montego with the bone-stock 302 started running rough and progressively got worse a few months ago. It sits for long periods so I thought the fuel system was clogged. Then I thought maybe it was ignition. I pulled #1 plug wire and grounded it, fired it up and got a nice blue spark. after running for 10 minutes the spark turned yellow and the engine started stumbling and I noticed the spark was cutting out. The engine never dies but continues to run rough. These are the only causes I can think of and I'm trying to fix it on the cheap since I don't have a lot of cash to throw at it right now. Coil? Voltage regulator? Distributor? even though it's less than a few years old? Any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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1. 1971 Montego parts car, but it still runs!
2. 1971 Montego. Numbers matching 4V Cleveland, C6, 9 inch rear 3.25 Trac-lok(project car) 3. 2003 Crown Victoria P71 ,Daily driver |
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Big Bird
Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194 |
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First, look at the cap and rotor for corrosion
Points? I would look at points/condenser and engine ground as well as coil. Duraspark? Module or rust on the "wheel" and sensor in the distributor. |
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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14609 |
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are you running points? if so check them clean and gap to .018 , or replace and gap, condenser too, next guess would be the coil
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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M-code Montego
New Member Joined: 23-February-2014 Location: Newport Beach Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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It's a stock replacement points dist. with an ACCEL cap. The terminals on the cap had some carbon deposits but I cleaned it up as well as the rotor and it had no affect. I have another coil in a box somewhere so I'll have to swap it out. The points looked ok and I didn't see any corrosion inside the dist. The engine ground is something I never considered. I'll jump back on it next weekend.
Thanks for the help. |
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1. 1971 Montego parts car, but it still runs!
2. 1971 Montego. Numbers matching 4V Cleveland, C6, 9 inch rear 3.25 Trac-lok(project car) 3. 2003 Crown Victoria P71 ,Daily driver |
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Ranchero Fan
Senior Member Joined: 03-March-2011 Location: Chicago area Status: Offline Points: 1022 |
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Brian 1973 Ford Ranchero Big Block. ''THE OTHER WOMAN''
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Big Bird
Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194 |
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If the car sits and if the gas has ethanol in it, the ethanol absorbs water out of the air and separates out at the bottom of the tank (@$#! you, EPA!) Boaters call this "water bottom". It may sit below your pickup and only show itself when you horse the car, or park on/go up & down hills. Only cure is to drain the tank. ISOPROPYL dry gas may help if it's not too bad.
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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
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unlovedford
Senior Member Joined: 17-December-2010 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 10142 |
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If the spark is turning yellow, I would suspect the coil is getting hot and breaking down. Wiring could be chafed and/or old and breaking down as well. Check points, condenser. Swapping out a different coil would be a good first move.
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Joe
1972 Mom's Squire Wagon 1972 Torino Wagon 1976 Torino 1968 Cougar XR7-First batch 1972 Torino 460 1989 BroncoII/Jeeps/Titanimous Popeye and Brutus (Rams) |
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