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An unusual problem! update!

G

gwstang

Member
My '66 has never had a problem starting when cold. '90 5.0 HO rebuilt and 600 edelbrock carb electric choke. Suddenly, the past 4 times I go to start it first thing in the morning and it won't start. A couple of mornings it has been cool, around 35-40F. A couple of other mornings it as about 50F or so. This morning the same thing so I first took off the air cleaner and made sure the choke plate was closed and then the choke wire had 12V to it. Gas was squirting down the throttle body when I would push on the throttle. It will start after about a minute or so of on and off trying and I wind up having to hold the gas pedal about half way or so to get it to start. It is thoroughly flooded by then and runs rough for a minute or so until it smooths out. It starts great for the rest of the day! I do have an electric fuel pump with a return line and I have only used non-ethanol gas for the last year and regularly turn the tank over. The fuel filter is clean. Any ideas to try from here? I am wondering if the older petronixII is going bad as I have noticed it is running a little rough on the last trip to town (about 35 mile each way). It has been so long since I have used points. Which wire goes where from the distributor to the coil and ignition? I think the wire from the dist goes to the negative coil and the positive ignition power wire (12V) goes to the positive on the coil? I might just swap the points into the car tomorrow just to eliminate the petronix. I had the first petronix go bad many years ago and they swapped it for the one I have been using now for 6 or 7 years or so. Any ideas before I do surgery? Thanks, Gary :confu
 
Re: An unusual problem!

I'd almost look elsewhere; usually when the Petronix act up, they never recover.
 
Re: An unusual problem!

The one that went bad before would crank and run but would cut off while driving along. Restart (while still rolling along) and go a bit and cut off again...repeat.
 
Re: An unusual problem!

Weak ignition can cause this, but Mid is right, most pertronix fai;lures I've heard of just quit.

That said, check everything on the ignition including plugs. I once had a points car do exactly this. but if you pulled the plugs (4 banger). heated them with a torh and put them back in, it would fire right up. New plugs, and no issues anymorte.
 
Well, problem solved! I ordered a new Petronix and put it in this afternoon and wala! Started right up and idled smooth. I went with the Petronix I this time. I have had 2 of the Petronix II units that have failed. The last one did last about 7 years or so. From what I have read over the years, the Petronix I unit is much more reliable than the II unit. I swear if this one fails, I will spend the remainder of my days on earth dissing Petronix everywhere I can type.
 
Good. I have run several cars with the Pet.1 setup. Always carry a full conversion to points too....just in case......and only had one fail in the driveway after a good drive.
 
Ha Ha, that was a good video response! :yah

Pete, I do likewise and have the points stuff in a zip lock in the trunk toolbox. Never trust any part on a mustang , is my thought for sure. :confu i have coil/electric meter/solenoid/ anything I have ever taken off that might short out or f***up and can be replaced on the roadside!
 
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