1971 Buick Electra Clicking

Tiny
CHRISJ32
  • MEMBER
  • 1971 BUICK ELECTRA
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 76,000 MILES
New Battery And Just Put A New Starter In But When I Turn It Over It Dont Start And I Checked A Couple Spark Plugs And Some Had No Fire Getting To Them I Go To School For This And I Should Know But Its Tripping Me Out Cause I Just Put New Timing Chains And Everything In It
Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 5:27 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.

Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.

2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.

3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 6:09 AM
Tiny
CHRISJ32
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hey thanks for the reply and yes I have done the spark plug and fuel test and the spark plug wasnt getting no kindof spark cause at first I had the wire off the spark plug while someone turned it over on bout three and I didnt see no spark jump then I got the spark plug tester that goes in the spark plug hole nothing my fuel comes to the carb and no leaks or holes in any lines
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 6:16 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
These were pretty notorious for bad ignition control modules, assuming you have an HEI ignition system. I'm not sure what year that started.
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 8:10 AM
Tiny
CHRISJ32
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Oooh ok cause I even tried jumping it it didnt even start it sounds like it wanna start tho but it dont is it anyway I can check it?
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 8:20 AM
Tiny
CHRISJ32
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
And I just looked it up my car dont have one unless its hooked to the distributor
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 8:23 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It would be inside the distributor if it doesn't have points instead.
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 12:40 PM

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