Only running with starter engaged

paradisePWoffrd

paradisePWoffrd

Recovering Project Junkie
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Location
Newton, NC
I have an 1.6 8v engine w/ stock distributor & Carb intake.

I was told that I need to get a Carb dizzy & housing but I figured I'd try to run it off the FI dizzy w/ an msd first.

Here's my setup:
Cps output to msd input.
msd power, ground, & ign strait to battery
Msd to + & - of the coil
Battery strait to starter.
battery ground to block/starter
Ign feed from dizzy to battery
ign ground to dizzy housing base to firewall

Problem:
The engine will crank & run but as soon as I let off power to the starter solenoid it dies. If I keep the starter engaged I can rev the motors & all just fine but let the starter off & it dies.

Thinking it might be the engine grounding through the starter but can't figure it out.

Any help would be great.

Ask away with the questions.


Here are the wiring diagrams Im going off of, and How I have it wired in.

msd wiring.jpg

cps wire.jpg

dizzy wiring.jpg
 
Is the "run" side of the ignition switch hot when you turn the key loose? If hot, is it connected to the box in the right spot?
 
I will try to hook the coil up like that... not sure if the MSD pulses on the + or - side of the coil.



the ignition switch isnt even hooked up. Anything that needs 12V+ is hooked strait to the battery +.

To turn over the starter, I have a jumper that I touch to the battery.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
the ignition switch isnt even hooked up. Anything that needs 12V+ is hooked strait to the battery +.

To turn over the starter, I have a jumper that I touch to the battery.
Click to expand...

That may be where your problem comes in. The efi distributor may need power full time, that runs through the starter first???? Just an idea.
 
based off the factory wiring diagram, the CPS is feed strait from the battery through the main relay... I have it wired to the battery now, just without the relay.


The main thing to note, is as my "drawing" above shows, there is no switch on any of the wires. All the 12V+ & IGN wires are hooked to Battery+.

The ground wire for the CPS is hooked to a ground lug on the base of the distributor housing, and there is a wire running from there to the battery.

The main - lead from the battery is running strait to the bolt where the starter bolts to the block/bellhousing.
 
GATORBACK said:
NOT FROM THE COIL + FROM THE MSD BOX + TO THE BAT. THE POS FROM THE COIL FEED OFF THE MSD BOX
Click to expand...

Not sure I am following you.

Both 12V+ for the MSD are to the battery. MSD is hooked to both + & - of the coil.


If anyone local is willing to come take a look & help me troubleshoot, let me know and Ill PM you my number.
 
the white crank wire is feeding the white MSD trigger wire. There is no tach currently installed.

I have not called MSD because I figured the problem must be somewhere else. When it cranks it runs good, until you release the starter.
 
I had that problem once before on an old ford. I don't remember for sure, but seems like the problem was coil power. Seems like there is a big white resistor on the firewall that had something to do with it.
 
GubNi said:
I had that problem once before on an old ford. I don't remember for sure, but seems like the problem was coil power. Seems like there is a big white resistor on the firewall that had- something to do with it.
Click to expand...

This is why i said run 12v straight to the coil. Ford has a wire on the starter solenoid that bypasses the ballast wire and sends 12v to the coil only when cranking.

But if you look at the msd tech forum, a zuk guy has the same problem you do and the tech suggests using the points/amplifier install diagram which has the old coil - running to white wire. Assuming yours is an older 6a
 
i pulled all the wires loose and cleaned it all up, and it now seems to work... guess I wasnt getting a full 12v or ground somewhere....

now I just haveto get the fuel mixture and timing situated...
 
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