I think I found ONE of the problems....

[clev]

On previous posts, I've mentioned that the Festie had no fire and then sometimes, it did. I've added a few accessories and today, I decided to disconnect all accessories and see if they were interferring with fire from the coil.

On the driver's side, under the hood, beside the brake booster, are about 5 female connectors. One is Camel Brown with two openings and it is dead with the key off, but with the key on, one is 12v and the other a ground. I installed an intermittant wiper control many years ago and with a blade connector, I connected the intermittant control for 12v power. Today, when nothing was firing, I pulled the blade out of the connector and ----VROOOOOOM!!! , it started up and idled perfectly. I drove it around the block (about 2 miles), and the difference was amazing. Throttle response was good, idle was good, power was AMAZING; I was impressed and pleased.

However, when I was pulling into the garage, the engine tried to die. When I gave it gas, it tried to die. I could 'feather' the gas pedal and keep it running, but it really wanted to die. That passed after a few seconds, and again, everything was fine. So, I think I've fixed the ignition problem, but I'm still dealing with a fuel/air problem. So now that it's narrowed down a little, can/will someone offer some advice on this final problem?

[jglutz]

If 'camel brown" connector has a green/red and black wire, you tapped the fuel pump test connector. Green/red would have been the+12VDC. This connector is to test the fuel pump. A blade jumper is place between the two sockets when the key is on and the fuel pump relay is forced on...thus...the fuel pump will be forced on

I don't know your exact home made circuit...but...it is possible that you could have caused some type of series circuit with the fuel pump relay...( a little Kirchoff's Law: the voltage drop across the devices in a series circuit is proportional to the percent resitance of the circuit the device represents) Layman's terms: the fuel pump relay coil may have seen way less than 12 volts. Most likely the relay cycled way to may times because of low voltage and the contacts are shot...New relay required. A far shot..the air flow contact in the VAF that latches the relay on could also be shot.

Before you change parts....measure your battery voltage at idel and at 3K RPM....curius if the voltage varies enough to drop the relay out. Also...nextime it idels rough...jumpthe green/red and black wires together...if idel improves...VAF contacts are shot.

Good Luck and welcome to the site.

[clev]

Hi jg, thanks for trying to help again. I'll try to clarify:

I didn't make a 'home made circuit'. The Intermittant Wiper Control has a hot wire to be connected to 12v when the key is on; the Camel Brown plug satisified that requirement. I installed a 'blade' connector to that wire and plugged it into the 'hot' side of the brown plug. It is now disconnected. I'm not understanding what you're referring to about 'fuel pump relay coil', and 'contacts being shot'. Where do I find it and how do I test it? Also measure battery voltage 'where???', and jump green/red and black wires ?????. I apologize for being so ignorant on these electronic issues, but I'll never learn if I don't ask.

[jglutz]

^^ OK..No Problem...lets start this way...what color was the 12 volt wire you tapped into and what othe wires did you have and where were they connected?

[clev]

^^ OK..No Problem...lets start this way...what color was the 12 volt wire you tapped into and what othe wires did you have and where were they connected?

I just went out to check the wire (8:50 PM CST), and the hot side of the brown plug is 'thick yellow with green stripe); thicker than the other yellow/green wires. But more importantly, I tried to start it, and again, no fire; won't start. So, I've now narrowed it down: early morning and late evening, it has no fire and won't start. Mid-day, it'll start and I guess the brown plug had nothing to do with it. Christ, I'm thinking of a good Bonfire!

[kzbill]

Many of us have threatened to burn them before we found a simple problem or two.

[jglutz]

^^ OK..No Problem...lets start this way...what color was the 12 volt wire you tapped into and what othe wires did you have and where were they connected?

I just went out to check the wire (8:50 PM CST), and the hot side of the brown plug is 'thick yellow with green stripe); thicker than the other yellow/green wires. But more importantly, I tried to start it, and again, no fire; won't start. So, I've now narrowed it down: early morning and late evening, it has no fire and won't start. Mid-day, it'll start and I guess the brown plug had nothing to do with it. Christ, I'm thinking of a good Bonfire!

No reason to be looking for a book of matches...yet....just find all the clocks in the house...set them to 2:00PM and pull the batteries...how simple is that!

[kned33]

How cold does it get? Could be a part or connector expanding/contracting in and out of contact. It is just an idea.

[dahodges]

If it was my car I would try a new distributor.

David

[clev]

If it was my car I would try a new distributor.

David

Well, da, I've got a lot of money and time invested in this vehicle, so I decided to follow your advice. I just ordered a NEW coil, module, and distributor for O'Reillys---another $350.00 plus tax. Christ, I can't believe the money I have in this vehicle.