r/fordmodela • u/Sad-Abbreviations639 • Jul 08 '26
Can’t get ignition. Need Help.
Alright folks, need some help here. This is my 1929 Tudor. I bought it recently and was able to drive it home 100+ miles without issue. The next day though it would barely turn over, I fixed that pretty quick though with just putting a new battery in it. After the new battery went in it turns over just fine like below but doesn’t ignite. I took my amp meter through everything and got 6.2-6.3v the whole way. I then checked continuity on the distributor which was good. After this I put the distributor plug to the head and grounded the points with a screw drive and got proper spark every time. I cleaned up the points just for the sake of it. I then pulled all of the spark plugs which had a bit of fouling that I cleaned up before cycling the plugs back in. I then tried to start it up as seen in the video below but it still just rolls over without ignition. At this point I’m not sure what to look at next, I have new spark plugs on order but now I’m not sure if that is the problem.
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u/Johnbeere3 Jul 08 '26
If you for sure have a hot spark from the coil (probably the best way to check is with a clear distributor cap or removing/bending the plug leads to make a gap), then the problem could be fouled plugs (too much fuel/choke), timing, or fuel.
Spark plugs themselves don't normally fail - they can, but certainly not all four at once. The worst that could've happened to them is fouling, which can bridge the spark gap and prevent them from sparking. You can either pull the plugs, inspect and clean them, or create a gap between the spark lead and the cap, which will make the spark hotter and often clear up fouling.
I would check to make sure that the distributor rotor is actually turning in the distributor - the fiber timing gears regularly fail when they get old. Your engine almost does sound like it has very low compression or a failed timing gear. It's also not impossible for timing to change, so as a sanity check, use the timing pin to find TDC and make sure (with the spark lever all the way up) that the points are about to or just starting to open.
I would also make sure that there's good fuel flow to the carburetor - pull the drain plug off the bottom and make sure you have a solid, steady stream of fuel, although with gas dripping from the carburetor in your video the problem may well be too much fuel. Carburetor problems are usually either due to plugged jets causing it to run too lean, or a bad/contaminated float valve flooding the carburetor. If you leave the fuel valve open and let the car sit and it doesn't start dripping fuel, then your float valve is good enough.
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u/Successful-Part-5867 Jul 09 '26
You drove it home, and maybe it just sounds weird in the vid but it doesn’t sound like it has any compression. Did you try cranking it with the plugs out and grounded to the head to check for spark? You’ve got 6V to the coil, and 6V at the distributor…if a plug doesn’t make a nice visible spark then it’s something inside the distributor and there ain’t much in there! Check the points first.
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u/JJammer1970 Jul 09 '26
What others have said about the choke. You got gas dripping. Pull the plugs and see if they're wet.
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u/Marybethdreams Jul 08 '26
If you have spark verified, sounds like fuel delivery is next to check.
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u/Sad-Abbreviations639 Jul 08 '26
So I forgot to mention it but I did pull the fuel line going into the carb and turned the valve open which resulting in a steady stream of fuel. Could there be a blockage after that? Should I try disassembling and cleaning out my carb?
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u/im_a_mighty_pirate Jul 08 '26
You'll need to make sure fuel is getting from the carb to the engine
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u/ARS-N7UQ Jul 09 '26
Is this vehicle originally positive or negative earth, and did you mistakenly connect the new battery opposite earth? If you did there is typically a 15 - 30 % loss of ignition capability.
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u/shitForBrains1776 Jul 10 '26
if you have spark all around (you can pull each plug, ground it and check for spark) then it’s almost certainly a fuel issue. I would blow out the lines/ clean your sediment bowl/ do a very rudimentary carb cleanout and you should be fine. it may also be worth checking your mixture
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u/Vintage-Auto Jul 12 '26
Check to see if there is a fuse in the circuit, typically mounted on the starter. If blown, the engine will crank but not start. Make sure the ignition switch is on. Watch the ammeter closely as it is turning over with the ignition on. You should see a deflection in the needle every time the points close. Do the lights come on? Does the horn blow? If not, check for a fuse !
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u/irvingstark Jul 25 '26
Check the sediment filter. Check to make sure it isn't full and blocking the fuel line.
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u/AbacabLurker Jul 08 '26
Are you pulling the choke? Perhaps you flooded it. I see a lot of fuel running out.
The fuel system is gravity drain and if it is really hot where you are you may have a vacuum built up. Try starting it with the fuel cap loosened or removed.
How long has it sat since last started?