Steering column and other wiring questions??? 3/17/08

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys,

Got a problem...
The long awaited day to fire up the '68 CS, as this phaze of the project nears completion, finally came...
I made sure I had everything hooked up and ready to go, it cranked over great, but would not hit a lick.
Started running down the basics to find there is no spark on #1 plug.
Pulled the coil wire no fire there either.
Initially, I questioned the placement of two wires.
One wire goes to the coil, and the other goes to the temp sending unit.
I swapped those two wires, and still nothing...
I checked for power on the one I'm pretty sure is the one for the coil, no power w/key off, power with key on.
I checked the wire I'm pretty sure is the one for the temp sending unit...
This is where it got confusing... with the key on, it blinked....
blink blink blink...
I'm not 100% possitve, but I don't think it issupposed to do that...
The only wiring that was messed with at all, was the wiring for the column.
I put a good workin' turn signal switch and center shaft from a '71 CS into my housing.
The wire colors were differant, but I matched them together with chart I got from Thunderfoot.
I didn't have the turn signal switch lever installed, so I couldn't tell if the blinky went off with the switch...
Help !!!

KaptnKA S

[SteveC]

the light is suppose to blink in the sending unit wires, It is caused by the instrument voltage regulator it is a pulse signal. the oil, temp and gas gauge wires should all do that.

Now for the question that you might have already answerd but ill ask any way. Is the wire coming from the distribitor going to the negitive side of the coil and the switched wire going to the positive side?

[Thunderfoot]

Then if you put a test light on the positive terminal on the coil and crank the motor the light should flash, if it doesn't then you have a problem with the distributor. The points not working or condenser bad or wire shorted in it...

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys,

Just to follow up on this...
I don't seem to have any fire from the coil wire...
The wire going from the ignition switch to the coil has power with the key on... will check to see if it blinks when cranking.
I am going to replace the condenser, and try a differant coil, everything else is new. I already replaced the cap, rotor, plugs and wires.
I have a Pertronics points eliminator that I am going to install, but wasn't gonna do that until after I got it started 'cause I knew it ran good before disassembly.
With the Pertronics unit do you still need the condencer?
Also, my coil has a second condencer mounted on it.
It is hooked to the ignition side of the coil...
Does anyone know what that would be for ???
Should I replace it as well ???

Thanks again,

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

the coil condesor is for radio stic. it will be fine if you leave it alone.

[Thunderfoot]

See my answers in Blue

Hey Guys,

Just to follow up on this...
I don't seem to have any fire from the coil wire...
The wire going from the ignition switch to the coil has power with the key on... will check to see if it blinks when cranking.
I am going to replace the condenser, and try a differant coil, everything else is new. I already replaced the cap, rotor, plugs and wires. Do some checking before buying parts... Have you popped the cap off and looked in there since putting on the new cap and rotor? I have had one rotor that didn't seat all the way down and it hit the cap when I turned the motor over and knocked the tip off the rotor... Also, check to make sure the point gap is still there.
I have a Pertronics points eliminator that I am going to install, but wasn't gonna do that until after I got it started 'cause I knew it ran good before disassembly.
With the Pertronics unit do you still need the condencer? NO, this is for the points.
Also, my coil has a second condencer mounted on it.
It is hooked to the ignition side of the coil...
Does anyone know what that would be for ??? I have this on my Highboy and have never seen this before, I need to look at it a little more but it is either for noise or to help keep the points or wire from burning (depends on how it's wired in) I will look at this more later this week when I get back out to work on it...
Should I replace it as well ??? As long as you have power at the + terminal on the coil then it should be fine.

Thanks again,

KaptnKA S

[Thunderfoot]

Someone found this link a while ago... (don't remember who it was, sorry) Shows install of Pertronix http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/173 ... to_01.html

[kaptnkaos]

Thanks Thunderfoot...

I printed the instructions for the Pertronics out...
I have that same info on my puter at home, but easier to print it out here than to carry the puter with me...

KaptnKA S