318 Ignition/Start Issue
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 6:41 pm
Have a 1967 W200 with a 318 that was "period" customized - Carter carb, Edlebrock intake, headers ...
I upgraded to Petronix with their suggested coil. Added a new starter. Just changed all the plugs the fuel filter, charged up the battery (Optima) and it has been running great (had it out last week).
Went out to use it for some chores today ... and nothing. Immediate thought was to hook up a jump from a battery charger/jumper (thinking I had left something on) and nothing. Not even a click.
Checked battery and it was good.
Turned ignition switch to run and accessory positions and got stereo to run fine and dash to engage. Nothing/all went dead when I turned to start position.
Have not replaced the ballast resistor (probably original), has the original ignition, and also original spark plug wires. Quite a bit of the wiring is original.
Have run/owned a lot of heavy equipment over the years and it seems like what I would call a "wiggle jiggle" situation ... like a failsafe switch is out of joint. But know of none on this truck.
Wondering if it is the ballast resistor or just the ignition switch.
Have spare trucks and someone who knows more than I do on electronics but wanted to see if it might be something I could do/try.
Question: If it is the switch - Just finished a Painless rewire on a 68 318 and added a new ignition switch. Found the switch ok but could not find a matching wire fitting that I could wire to and then plug the switch into. Had to run wires into ignition and ended up with a loose wire the other day. Wondering if anyone knows of a source for a fitting? That way I could change out on both trucks.
Always something, but when they are working they are tanks.
I upgraded to Petronix with their suggested coil. Added a new starter. Just changed all the plugs the fuel filter, charged up the battery (Optima) and it has been running great (had it out last week).
Went out to use it for some chores today ... and nothing. Immediate thought was to hook up a jump from a battery charger/jumper (thinking I had left something on) and nothing. Not even a click.
Checked battery and it was good.
Turned ignition switch to run and accessory positions and got stereo to run fine and dash to engage. Nothing/all went dead when I turned to start position.
Have not replaced the ballast resistor (probably original), has the original ignition, and also original spark plug wires. Quite a bit of the wiring is original.
Have run/owned a lot of heavy equipment over the years and it seems like what I would call a "wiggle jiggle" situation ... like a failsafe switch is out of joint. But know of none on this truck.
Wondering if it is the ballast resistor or just the ignition switch.
Have spare trucks and someone who knows more than I do on electronics but wanted to see if it might be something I could do/try.
Question: If it is the switch - Just finished a Painless rewire on a 68 318 and added a new ignition switch. Found the switch ok but could not find a matching wire fitting that I could wire to and then plug the switch into. Had to run wires into ignition and ended up with a loose wire the other day. Wondering if anyone knows of a source for a fitting? That way I could change out on both trucks.
Always something, but when they are working they are tanks.