75 sitting idle - won't fire

All-
My 75 has been sittle idle for awhile out in the elements; won't admit how long 'cause I'd probably be booted from this forum. Basically, she won't fire. I've replaced the plugs and wires and dumped some gas stabilizer in her but still no spark.
Any brilliant ideas?

 

Spark? Pull the coil wire, hold it near the block and crank to see if you are getting spark.

A '75 has the troublesome Prestolite ignition, so ignition failure is a good possibility.

 

One more thing I forgot to add in my original post; I tried some starting fluid at the beginning of the summer and the engine fired once but then nothing.

Thanks for the response - I will try this - makes a lot of sense. To further my education - what's the reason I'm holding the coil wire near the block?
If nothing else, I'll probably replace the ignition coil - something other than Prestolite I figure.

 

Sudden no-start (nothing - no pop, no nothing) is 99.9% likelyhood either no fuel or no spark. You have fuel ... so you need to test for the presence of spark. Spark + fuel = boom.

The spark has to travel to ground somewhere. The block is a convenient grounded surface. You are interested in seeing the spark jump the gap from the wire to the block. This will demonstrate that you "have spark." You should get a good blue-white spark that jumps at least a 1/4" gap. Use something well insulated to hold the wire - a pair of chopsticks or something similar.

The coil in these cars is just an ordinary coil. The Prestolite parts are the distributor and the gold ignition module on the passenger fender.

Prestolite ignition module:

 

If you check the coil wire and have spark, you can also stick a screwdriver in a spark plug wire and hold it near the engine block during ignition. You should expect to see a spark jump the gap. This will tell you that your distributor is conducting properly.

 

Tim, you forgot a very important part of the equation: air. Spark + Fuel + Air = boom. Spark + fuel in the absence of oxygen= nothing. The air part of the equation amounts to making sure the choke isn't stuck shut or rats haven't built a nest in the air cleaner (since it's been sitting a while this is a strong possibility). If you eliminate these elements, fuel, spark and air, one by one you can find out why it's not starting.

 

AughH! Criticism!

 

Posted via Mobile Device

 

Took one look at the coil and decided to replace it. Didn't test as recommended and now the results are same - just turning over. But am not sure about the ignition wire from coil to distributor - doesn't seem to seat properly on new coil. Checked manufacturer website and is correct part.
All wires look to be in good shape but I can't remember if I replaced them since she started last.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Consider it peer review.

 

Tim has peers? I thought he was in a class all to himself.

{sorry for the sidebar...now back to your regularly scheduled thread}

 

UPDATE:
Am working on the ignition system and trying to install new points. I get the wheel/spoke-like part out of the way to access old points?
I have pics but can't seem to figure out how to attach.
Also found that my fuel neck is totally coroded and has a hole in it.

 

Your ignition system does not have points, If it is a prestolite. It uses that gold box on the fender to trigger the spark.

 

If you go to the "Forum help and testing" there is a sticky from Sparky that explains how to post pictures. You don't have points with electronic ignition. That is what has us confused. Pictures will be needed to see what you are trying to do. HTH

 

I think that now there is a sticky at the top of all forums, after you click in, above the black bar, regarding picture posting info.

If I can do it, it can't be too hard.

Still working on the avatar...

 

"The Jeep bible", probably the best money I've spent on my Jeeps.Good luck,
Larry

 

12 volts to ignition module?

 

Hey...can I resurrect an old strain back to life after 6 years?
So I finally got my 75 back home after nearly 3 years in storage and then another year sitting in the garage since.
The evening I moved her from storage she showed signs of life. On a whim I brought along a new ignition module and swapped it out and she started right up and ran about 10 minutes before I shut her down and towed her home (10-15 minutes). But once I got her home she wouldn't start up again. Since then I changed the coil, gas tank and fuel filler, and blew out the lines. She'll crank and crank all day but get no spark. Yesterday I went through the ignition troubleshooting from the manual; I have 12v at the coil but am not getting anything extra when cranking. Says the test light will flicker when cranking but I just get solid. So supposedly that means the ignition module being bad (?) AGAIN...so I'm leaning towards the D.U.I. distributor. Any thoughts?

 

I have a 75... I finally gave up on the Prestolite. I used to carry 2 ignition modules.. I installed an HEI ignition when I went to TBI.. Never misses a beat. I still carry a spare HEI module just cause... Old habit..

FWIW I still have 2 Prestolite ignition modules sittin in the shop..

 

Mighty kind; if I go that route I'll let you know. A buddy of mine recommended replacing both the coil and ignition module together - and then who knows how much longer the distributor will hold up. So at this point I'd rather make the investment and get a simple, long-term solution.