Will not start

Tiny
BOBMAC
  • MEMBER
  • 1971 FORD MUSTANG
  • 4.8L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
I only start it once every couple of weeks. It takes a while and begins to fire and eventually starts. I let it sit too long in cold weather and it will not start at all now. It has a new distributor assembly. But not sure about coil. Any thoughts out there?
Saturday, December 16th, 2017 AT 2:09 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Distributor was installed after it would not run at all?

Any other changes after it quit running?

Are you 100% sure it was installed perfectly? (I can aid you!)

Can you describe how you installed it?

I guess you have used fuel or starter fluid in the carburetor to attempt to start it?

Points or electronic ignition?

Any mods that are not OEM?

The Medic
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Saturday, December 16th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
BOBMAC
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Distributor and coil were new about one year ago and the car has started many times afterward. I have tried starter fluid and added about five gallons of gas to make sure it would reach the engine. Sounds like I hear an electric fuel pump when I turn the key. This is my daughters car and I have inherited it for awhile and for the last year or so it has started every time eventually until now. The only real difference is colder weather and I waited four weeks to start it. I usually do it every two weeks.
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Sunday, December 17th, 2017 AT 1:16 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I am kind of confused.

BOBMAC please go back to the beginning of this post and look at the information just below your username.

Jump back down here and make any corrections!

Thanks,

The Medic
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Sunday, December 17th, 2017 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
BOBMAC
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Addressing your initial questions; The car started before the distributor was replaced. The distributor and coil were replaced by a knowledgeable person and the car ran better after they were replaced. To my knowledge this is not an electronic ignition. You must turn the key and press a jury rigged second button to crank the motor. The motor will crank now but will not start. I have tried priming the carburetor with starter fluid. I have inherited this vehicle from my daughter. That is as much as I know. It started whenever I tried until a few days ago. It has gas. It sounds like it has an electric fuel pump in the back of the car.
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 6:05 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,687 POSTS
Lets start by check for spark at the plugs. Here is a guide to help us see if the problem is fuel or spark. Check out toward the end of the guide it will show you how to check for spark. If you do the test in low light it works the best.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Please run this test and get back to us.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, December 18th, 2017 AT 2:53 PM

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