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Electrical Troubles

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Floyd, Apr 17, 2021.

  1. Apr 17, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2021
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    6
    I have a 1966 cj5 with a Daughntless v6. Jump started it and when I removed the cables it died and now it will not start. No spark. I fried something but I can not figure out what. Any suggestions on what might be wrong.
     
  2. Apr 17, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Aug 3, 2003
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    9,754
    Will it crank without a jumper?

    If not, will it start and run with the jumper? If so your battery may have a lousy connection at the terminal(s) or it may have croaked.

    Try cleaning all connections and then if necessary try swapping in a known good battery.

    OTH, if it cranks well with your existing battery, move on to plan B. What power do you have and where? Lights work? Horn?

    Then you will need to trace the power to the ignition circuit with the key on. Do you get 12Volt juice to the coil, and then distributor? If not, trace that circuit back to the battery until you find the fault.

    If you do have power coming into the distributor, then the lack of spark is there. Points or electronic?
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2021
    Floyd and boopiejones like this.
  3. Apr 19, 2021
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    Mar 16, 2020
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    545
    Given it was running when still connected to the jump vehicle, as PeteL said you may have a bad battery or a bad battery connection.

    I could be wrong but I thought, while not advisable, you could disconnect a battery and the engine should still run using alternator power. Assuming that’s true, it’s essentially what you did when you disconnected the jumper vehicle. Given the engine stalled at that point makes me wonder if your alternator is the problem.

    why did you jump it in the first place? Was it running well and then suddenly refuse to start, or had it been sitting for months without starting?
     
  4. Apr 19, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    You need to go systematically through everything that contributes to ignition. Do you have the FSM? It has procedures for testing the ignition.
    Don't guess. Go step by step and measure.

    First post! Welcome from Boston.
     
  5. Apr 19, 2021
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    Oct 3, 2016
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    I’d check your grounds first.
     
  6. Apr 19, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2021
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    6
    It has points. I'm not much for electrical. I will google how to check power to the coil and distributor. Sat for a year. pumped the bad gas out and replaced the fuel filter. Fired up and ran fine while hooked to the cables. Thought it would run with the bad battery off the alternator so I unhooked it, the cable sparked and now it won't fire with the cables hooked up. Went from 602 to 30s here in ND. Going to let it warm back up before I work on it again. It is for sale so if you know anybody who wants a 66 Dauntless send them to me. Thank you for the info!
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
  7. Apr 19, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
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    Sat For a year. Ran fine with cables hooked up, unhooked cable, cable sparked then would not fire after I hooked up cables back up. Turns over but will not fire. Battery is bad but it started when jumped the first time. after the spark turns over but doesn't fire. Guess I am going to learn how to check electrical. I will check power to the distributor and work my way back. Thank you for the post. If you know anybody who wants a 66 Dauntless it is for sale. Send them my way.
     
  8. Apr 19, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
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    Apr 17, 2021
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    Will do. Thank you for your post. 66 Dauntless is for sale.
     
  9. Apr 19, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
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    Apr 17, 2021
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    I looked up FSM. I do not have one. Going to start at the distributor and work my way back. I know very little about testing electrical. Guess I'm going to learn. 66 Dauntless is for sale. Ran good until I fried something. Drove it last year. Everything worked. Thank you for your post!
     
  10. Apr 19, 2021
    Floyd

    Floyd New Member

    North Dakota
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2021
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    Sat a year. Battery is bad. Ran good with cables hooked up. Unhooked cables got a spark now it turns over but will not fire even with starting fluid. Spark was between the battery and jumper cable. Turns over but will not start.
     
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