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2 Jet Runs Better With Choke On Plus HEI Issue

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Focker, Feb 18, 2015.

  1. Feb 25, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm about to throw in the towel and go back to points. You're right the Jeep was starting and running...Where did it all go wrong? I've put new parts into this HEI and it keep failing! Next is to buy a condenser? What sucks is the new coil through a spark...Now its dead? What killed it?

    I did a lot of continuity testing grounds etc all night and after reading your suggestions this morning. Everything is fine but what's weird, is, I've got 12 volts to the distributor ("battery" on the HEI), I also can get continuity through the same wire to any ground on the jeep??? I traced the wire to the ignition switch, the only way to get the continuity to stop is the unplug the plug from the switch. It's the main plug that has the large red, lg purple and lg green ignition wire. Is this correct?
     
    cookieman likes this.
  2. Feb 25, 2015
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    You can't do continuity testing with a meter to ground on a powered circuit & expect sane results- you'd be testing the circuit segment you're interested in *and* the battery path to ground at the same time- plus the battery voltage can throw your actual readings way off.

    Disconnect the battery & try again.

    H.

    H.
     
  3. Feb 25, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    The battery was disconnected.
     
  4. Feb 25, 2015
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    OK sorry, you said you had 12 volts on at the dizzy.

    What exactly is the reading you're getting in ohms? What kind of meter are you using & what range is it set to? You could be reading through the voltage regulator to ground or if there's anything else like a radio hooked to the ignition switch it could be that.

    H.
     
  5. Feb 25, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Don't be sorry I appreciate the help. I checked the voltage to the distributor with the battery connected. All the continuity was done with the battery disconnected. There are no accessories in the Jeep. I'm horrible with a volt meter, it's analog, my digital is dead.

    From what I've been reading on the web, it sounds like a common problem to get a few bad modules or coils brand new out of the box. I can't afford to keep trying.
     
  6. Feb 25, 2015
    47v6

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    You check to make sure your hall effect sender, reluctor, pickup, is working? It the thing at the bottom of the distributor. http://members.toast.net/rbuchholz/hei6a.jpg I have read that the wires can break off at that connection. Check them. if they are corroded or have suspect connection, replace. There are only so many things that can go wrong. take a deep breath, walk away and get back to it tomorrow or later. The answer will come.
     
  7. Feb 25, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    I'm not off until Friday...So I'll be racking my brain until then. It's frustrating but I keep telling myself this Jeep's a "project" this is what I wanted, something to wrench on.

    I might install the points distributor just to make sure I don't have a different issue. Once it's all dialed in and running strong, maybe try the HEI again. I think I'm more upset with spending the money on the parts and then having to shelf it.
     
  8. Feb 26, 2015
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Electrical problems are always frustrating, but don't give up too easy. Take a break from it for a couple of days, then go back thru it step by step with a clear head.

    If it was me I would double check all the wiring, then start changing parts - the module, the coil etc..

    You had it running before, just got get back to the same setup. If it still wont run, then its got to be a component failure.
     
  9. Feb 26, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Chris,

    You and Walt may have solved the problem. After reading your last post for the 3rd time, I went to the garage around midnight (late shift on Wednesdays). I checked the 2 wires from the module to the center of the distributor. I grabbed the needle nose and gave each a tug to check the connection, nothing lose. I then turned my attention to the wires from the other end of the module, the ones that run to the condenser and the cap plug. The connections were tight, the ground was good everywhere so I thought I'd check the continuity from the module plug to the cap plug (3 wire harness). After Walt's post I double checked the 3 wires for cuts or breaks but last night I discovered no continuity in the orange wire. I triple checked every part of the harness, including probing random sections of the wire. I finally pin pointed a break hidden inside the black rubber grommet. Hopefully I can pick up a new condenser/wire harness today and replace tomorrow morning and regain spark!
     
  10. Feb 26, 2015
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes this is correct. Just for drill bits I went out and checked my jeep with my digital meter.
    Measuring from the dist cap (HEI) ign wire to ground reads +/- 27K ohms. NO battery connected and the HEI cap to distributor plug disconnected. I also did this with the regulator unplugged with no change. I then reversed the meter leads with no change in reading. This tells me I am not reading through a diode or group of diodes in the alternator. This I expected to see as normal which it should be. The resistive reading is probably reflective (backwards) through the Instrument voltage regulator and it's associated connected items.
    As a side note: To check an item for resistance, it should be removed from the circuit or system.
     
  11. Feb 26, 2015
    47v6

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    I don't generally solve problems, i usually make then, so this might be a first.. I so much hope this takes care of your issue. Nothing more frustrating than electrical problems. I have had A LOT of them. The more you deal with them, the better you get at fixing them though. When there is a problem that stops you and seems insurmountable, instead of doing a "Hulk Smash", i just put down my tools and walk away. Even if its for a minute or so it seems to clear my mind and the solution presents itself. Not always though....
     
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  12. Feb 27, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    It's Alive !!!

    :driving:

    It was the condenser wire...It had come separated inside the black rubber grommet. I couldn't locate the harness in town so I repaired the harness and drilled the rubber grommet hole large enough to insert the new wires. I put it all together and the Jeep fired up on the first try. This was a beautiful thing considering the multiple cranking attempts I went through the other day. I even installed the older coil and module. Now I have new backups! I bet this was the cause of the Jeep just dying randomly. I'm guessing the longer I drove it, the worse the wire got from the vibration. I plan on ordering a new harness with fresh uncrusty wires.

    Thanks for all the troubleshooting and patience!
     
    eti engineer likes this.
  13. Feb 27, 2015
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

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    Glad you figured it out!
    Typically issues like this are caused by heating of the wires/connections and cooling. One way they make connection then cool down and don't or vice verse driving us nuts
     
  14. Feb 27, 2015
    47v6

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    I deal with cold solder joints and intermittent failures all the time. You can look at a wire, pull on the wire, check ohms of resistance, etc and still have the issue. It can be very frustrating and completely annoying.

    I am happy you pinpointed the problem and repaired it with positive results. Awesome actually.
     
  15. Feb 27, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Thanks for continuing to troubleshoot through the process. I would never had found the bad wire. I would have replaced the condenser and harness which would have fixed things but I would have blamed the old condenser. Finding the faulty wire taught me to trace EVERY wire next time. I hope I can move forward with the fun stuff now.
     
  16. Feb 27, 2015
    47v6

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    I thought that was the fun stuff?:p
     
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  17. Feb 27, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    - Milling a homemade FF axle is "Fun Stuff".
    - Breaking down on the trail because you were using your Jeep for its intended purpose is "Fun Stuff".
    - Being stuck in the parking lot of the hardware store on a work errand, only to discover after 15hrs of troubleshooting, that you had a bad wire on your used craigslist HEI. Not to mention throwing $ into it because you couldn't make spark is "Fun Stuff"... Not so much... At least for this guy. lol
     
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  18. Feb 27, 2015
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    So what's next on the Essential Repairs list?

    Fixing the 8-track so it doesn't keep eating tapes ?:twisted:


    H. :)
     
  19. Feb 27, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    Essential - Replace the leaky radiator.
     
  20. Feb 27, 2015
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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    ** UPDATE **

    I just returned from an incident free excursion in the Jeep. It could be my imagination but it hasn't ran better than it did today. I have a feeling that wire was cutting in and out causing the Jeep to perform poorly, even after the carb rebuild.
     
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