I have a situation where my '70 Electra, verified to have air, fuel, and spark, turns over (plenty of cranking power) but will not fire. The car is bone stock, all original, and started and ran great when I last parked it.
I'm getting spark out of the coil and at the plugs. I checked to see what voltage I'm getting at the coil when cranking. Expecting to find full battery voltage (minus some for voltage drop at the starter, so 11v give or take) at the coil when cranking, I only get 6v. This is what I'd expect in the run/on ignition position, but not what I'd expect when cranking, when power comes from the starter solenoid's R post and bypasses the coil wire's in-line resistance of 1.8 ohms (according to the wiring diagram). I measured 11v (battery voltage minus starter voltage drop) at the solenoid's R post while my wife cranked the starter, which is what I'd expect.
How can I get 11v out of the solenoid while cranking, but only 6v at the coil while cranking?
Anybody have any insight into this? Assuming this isn't normal, what's the most likely or least likely explanation for this? Am I on the right track or going down another rabbit hole?
Thanks,
Lee
I'm getting spark out of the coil and at the plugs. I checked to see what voltage I'm getting at the coil when cranking. Expecting to find full battery voltage (minus some for voltage drop at the starter, so 11v give or take) at the coil when cranking, I only get 6v. This is what I'd expect in the run/on ignition position, but not what I'd expect when cranking, when power comes from the starter solenoid's R post and bypasses the coil wire's in-line resistance of 1.8 ohms (according to the wiring diagram). I measured 11v (battery voltage minus starter voltage drop) at the solenoid's R post while my wife cranked the starter, which is what I'd expect.
How can I get 11v out of the solenoid while cranking, but only 6v at the coil while cranking?
Anybody have any insight into this? Assuming this isn't normal, what's the most likely or least likely explanation for this? Am I on the right track or going down another rabbit hole?
Thanks,
Lee