Not starting

**tjmcb** · July 18th, 2015, 05:15 PM

My 64 ranchero v8 has been hard to start lately and today it just won't start up.

I have fuel, engine turns over fine but I have no spark.

Accel street billet dizzy.
Accel super street coil.

?

**tjmcb** · July 19th, 2015, 05:31 PM

I can't believe that no one has an answer for a cranking but no spark issue on a 64 falcon ranchero v8 issue. I would randomly guess an ignition switch issue but could be distributor (which is accel street billet) or coil, This is a daily driver and I need some expertise from some experts.

Where do I start?

**ew1usnr** · July 19th, 2015, 07:13 PM

Hello, TJ.

I am by no means an expert, but have you taken off the distributor cap and looked inside? There is a carbon button on the inside of the cap that the rotor touches. That button can wear down or even fall out. If the button is not there the car will not start or run.

Also check that the central wire to the cap is plugged in tight at both the cap and coil.

Thanks, Dennis.

**Jeff W** · July 19th, 2015, 08:28 PM

Dennis is right. The first thing to do is I good visual test. If all looks good I would get out your manual and go to the Ignition System Trouble Diagnosis and Testing section. Those ford guys (or Chilton) have it all down in more detail than we c an type in a post.

If still stuck, the information the book testing will help narrow things down and the group can offer suggestions on specifics.

Is an Accel street dizzy a solid state unit or still use points?

We want to help, just need more to go on (at least I do).

**Jeff W** · July 19th, 2015, 09:03 PM

Found that the Accel unit is solid state.

http://shop.accel-ignition.com/ignit...c-ford-fe.html

This link has troubleshooting in the lower right of the page. Start there and let us know your results.

Main thing is to check your voltage where they tell you. I remember you were having ignition switch problems last year... May be related.

**tjmcb** · July 20th, 2015, 09:04 AM

Here is the latest and greatest-

Yes, I did have an ignition switch problem last year and solved it with help from you guys; I really appreciated it too! Thank you again.

It was running just great on Friday and it just would not start again on Saturday morning so, I checked fuel which I had plenty of, did a visual of everything and all seemed just fine. I used a test light on Saturday and verified by putting clip end(ground) to a good ground on the chassis and put point on positive side of battery to be sure the light was working. (all was good)

I knew I had power to the starter etc because the car turn over fine, dash lights and gauges all worked with key on. With key on I checked the coil with tester, clip grounded- point to positive no light and the same with negative side, same result. I kind of concluded it may be the switch since I had no power when the switch was in the on (run) position.

The only thing I did as a last thing on Saturday was jiggle the ignition switch around a bit with the key in and just closed it up a bit frustrated and just left it, never tried to start it again. Well this morning I went out and checked all again and low and behold when I checked the coil again I had a light on both sides with test light! I was shocked and almost afraid to try to start it. I did the usual one pump on the gas and turned the ignition and it started right up!!!!

So am I on the right trail- probably ignition switch, harness or connection at the same place? (I'm guessing I should have replaced it last year)

**Jeff W** · July 24th, 2015, 01:21 PM

The 12 Volt jumper to your coil will power your coil no problem and is all you would need for a stock distributor set-up and a coil that can handle the full 12 Volts.

If I understand your Accel Street Distributor correctly, I think you would also need a second jumper to the positive terminal on your Accel Distributor to power the trigger mechanism.

With both items jumpered to your + battery terminal, it should get you home. Of course you will need to unhook the jumper wires to get your engine to stop running as your key switch is only used to turn the starter motor at that point.

That is all assuming the intermittent problem isn't in your coil or distributor.

**tjmcb** · July 27th, 2015, 07:34 AM

Well it seems all my issues turn into really puzzling projects-

Car has been starting and running just fine, went out Sunday morning and it started and ran fine. Parked it for about 4 hours and it would not start.

It has power to both sides of coil fine and cranked fine just as before it had no spark and would not start?!

I let it sit for about an hour and tried again- it coughed once and started and ran just fine?1

This is just driving me crazy

**Luva65wagon** · July 27th, 2015, 08:49 AM

You may have a coil going intermittent. Here's a very good page explaining some diagnostics you can run - and will save all a lot of typing the same thing.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/ignition_coils.htm

**tjmcb** · July 30th, 2015, 09:42 AM

I thought I would fill you guys in on the latest-
I have checked all of the components with every test I can find and nothing is out of the ordinary. Also the car has been starting flawlessly since Sunday afternoon and I must have tried to get it not to about 20 times!

The problem is like waiting for a book to fall from the shelf, I know I've done nothing to fix the problem it just went away for now!

thanks again we'll see how it goes,