Little engine problem with my Catalina.

CATALINA 65 · Newbie

Little engine problem with my Catalina.

beaucarlo · Guru

RE: litle engine problem whit my catalina

67curves · Addicted!

beaucarlo wrote:
sounds like you lost spark,,,,,,,,if your car has original points&condenser style ignition------remove the coil wire from the distributor & hold the end 1/4 in. from a metal surface --have someone spin the motor over---if spark doesn't occur you have an issue with your points(no gap-or burnt-),condensor fault or open coil-wire...........by the way welcome to the site------ Bob from Windsor(the A-hole of the world)

Another way to check for spark is to pull off spark plug wire , insert a small metal object into rubber boot then have someone hold onto small metal object while you spin the engine over. Just watch there eye movement from inside the car and you will be able to tell right away if there is spark or not. One tip on doing this is make sure you are fully in the vehicle with the doors locked while doing this proceedure.

beaucarlo · Guru

67curves wrote:
beaucarlo wrote:
sounds like you lost spark,,,,,,,,if your car has original points&condenser style ignition------remove the coil wire from the distributor & hold the end 1/4 in. from a metal surface --have someone spin the motor over---if spark doesn't occur you have an issue with your points(no gap-or burnt-),condensor fault or open coil-wire...........by the way welcome to the site------ Bob from Windsor(the A-hole of the world)
Another way to check for spark is to pull off spark plug wire , insert a small metal object into rubber boot then have someone hold onto small metal object while you spin the engine over. Just watch there eye movement from inside the car and you will be able to tell right away if there is spark or not. One tip on doing this is make sure you are fully in the vehicle with the doors locked while doing this proceedure.

hahaha!!!!

beaucarlo · Guru

Nailhead wrote:
.......It can be no fuel also. Pour some gas down the carb and try it, if it fires then problem is no fuel so the pump may be shot, or plugged filter .

also no eyebrows !!! hahaha

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

OK check to see if you have spark, then check for fuel. If you have both, did you MIX up some of the s/plug wires when you changed the plugs??? Double check the firing order but remember the US pontiac dist turns opposite to the Cdn. one. If everything checks out. Pull #1 s/plug [frt. drivers side] & turn engine over by hand[with your thumb over s/plug hole to feel when it blows off] till you bring the piston up on compression stroke & timing mark should lign up with pointer!! Now take off the dist. cap & see where the rotor is pointing at, should be the #1s/plug wire!! If not, it's "jumped it's timing chain & your into tearing down the frt. of engine for new chain & gears!! These engines are bad for this & at 40000mi pretty well need it. Engine looks clean was it rebuilt or just a "make it look pretty" job!! Hope this will help you. I've had 2 US pontiacs & both have jumped the chain with no warning!!!70 Catalina & the 64 I have now. Pete

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

RE: Little engine problem with my Catalina.

CATALINA 65 · Newbie

thank-you I chek the gaz is coming good to the carburator I gone chek the spak-plug to see if have some fire come-back later thank-you again

Leo2+2 · Guru

I hope you resolved your issue by now ... but didn't I see you at the Orange Julep and in Laval this summer?

BIGCARGUY · Addicted!

An easy way for you to check the points for spark (if your Cat still has a non HEI distributor) turn the key to "ON" position. remove the cap and take a screw driver (flat tip) open and close the points to see if there is a spark. If no spark, there is your issue. Change them out. Just my 2 cents.