I was filling up the van at a gas station, when across the street I see this scenario, nice car but it won't start, actually it does start but as soon as the key is released it quits. I listen to this repeat itself multiple times and my mind is combing the possibilities... carburetor, mechanical fuel pump... points/condenser in a distributor, Dodges were known for that fault.. ah ha!
Tank now full, I wander over and ask him if he'd checked the ballast resistor on the distributor, ignition switch gives full 12 volts on start, drops back to 8 volts on run, governed by a somewhat fragile ballast resistor. He didn't take my advice gracefully so I offered him a hundred bucks for the car... He didn't take that offer either...
I guess that makes me officially an old guy, if I can remember troubleshooting from the 1960s.
Heh...
ReplyDeleteEarly 80s, heading to Loudon, Dodge quits on the interstate. Same symptons as you describe. Just as I'm jumping the ballast resistor with some galvanized wire, a state trooper shows up. I explain the situation, and he says "You mean that white thing? I just changed one in my car, follow me back to the station and you can have the old one."
Made it to Loudon and home. As far as I know, the car went to the crusher with that resistor in it.
Thanks, trooper.
Yep its official:)
ReplyDeleteWait, I thought all Canadians were pleasant and genteel.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasant and genteel conversation, but he seemed to think his old broken down Dodge was worth more than $100?
ReplyDelete"Advice is useless. Smart people don't need it, stupid people won't take it."
ReplyDelete