spring tune up

i plugged a spark plug into the middle of the distributor cap, no spark. i even turned the lights off in my garage to be sure i would see it.

yes, it ran before... last summer.

so just hook a plug up to the coil wire hookup on the distributor to see if i have spark?

I'm assuming it ran before the tune-up? And the engine is turning over, just no fire?

It's gotta be something simple. My humble advice would be to double check everything you just did then check for spark again at the plugs.

If no spark at plugs... check for spark at coil wire and go from there.

Just my 2 cents and I'm no expert.

HTH.

Joe

ok,

i installed plugs, cap, and rotor. took her to the lake and tried to start it up. nothing wouldn't even pop. needless to say i was dissapointed.

so when i got home i took out a spark plug and turned it over for a few seconds and i'm not seeing any spark on the plug. now how in the hell did i mess that up. it seemed pretty straight forward when i replaced the cap and i know i put all the plugs back on in the right order.   what should my next step be?

phospher wrote: i think you guys have all cleared this up pretty good for me. i'll change it out on the 12th and report back with any questions/issues. thanks guys i really appreciate all the help.

If you don't make it back in I'm sure there's a Nautique in the area that will tow you back in.    Just kidding. Have fun, best way to learn is to dig right in.

well for years when we would do engine work we would just throw the nuts and bolts in a coffee can then sort them later and never did we not get the bolts back where they belonged, so if you need to take pictures, labels or what ever method you want work within your abilities, but when you need to get teh job done and out the door you don't have time to label and take pictures, but not everyone can retain a picture in their mind for long periods of time or figure out that bolts too long or too short to go in that spot.

Phil, if you unlock the dist cap without taking any wires off, you'll see that it will only go back on 1 way. This will highlite where and what the index point is. Once you've done it once, you'll be a pro.

FWIW-you guys wouldn't believe the crazy stuff I've labeled...helps with brain cramps?!!? LOL

Lot of talk about a distributor cap. If your wires are back in in the correct firing order, and starting on the correct cylinder, it's "correct" no matter how they got there.

81nautique wrote: boat dr wrote: AALLEN, if you do not mark both the plug wires and the NEW CAP how will this help. With this said he will have to find the index mark to properly align the old and new cap,then label both wires and the cap............Boat dr I think you're just being arguementative BBillly,   the way a real mechanic like you would do it.      I'll let you take over now. ALAN

I am not a real mechanic, but i try real hard to do things correctly.
As far as the cap and wires , I MARK THEM BOTH, that way I do not rely on memory.Takes a little time but it solves a lot of problems later..........Billy

I label them clockwise, just 1-8, then take them off. I try to keep in mind that the #1 labeled wire was in a certain spot, like 1 o'clock or noon or whatever. Then I get the new cap/rotor on, start at that same position (1 o'clock/noon/whatever) and put the wires back on in order. It's no-fail and a piece of cake. I do the same on the plug-side of the wires if I'm taking more than one plug out at once- dead simple and fail-safe. Just to clarify- I don't use any index mark on the cap. I just swap the caps and put the wires back on in order, starting at the same point as the #1 wire was before I took it off.

i'm starting to get a better picture in my head of this....

what is the index mark and how do i make sure i keep the old and new cap aligned? from my understanding keeping these marks lined up will keep my timing the same.

phospher wrote: how about this? -pull the cap with all the wires still on -then install the new cap and rotor in the same position, -then hold the old cap with all the wires on it (to orientate the new one) and install the wires in the same position? -finally, install one plug wire at a time to make sure i keep the same order. does that make sense?

that's basicly the same thing but if you don't locate the indexing feature of the cap you can get the wires shifted over one or two towers which isn't a big deal but you will have to go back and retime it and it's going to be a little harder to start the first time.

Also the rotor can not be installed backwards as it is indexed as well and for you to install it wrong then you are forcing it on and will break the rotor in the process.

so true 81nautique.

79nautique wrote: Joel I wouldn't go to all of that trouble all you have to do is locate the indexing boss on the base of the old cap, pull the wire directly above it then install it in the same position on the new cap and then go one at a time in a clockwise or counter clock wise direction one wire at a time.

That's a good idea too.

Joel I wouldn't go to all of that trouble all you have to do is locate the indexing boss on the base of the old cap, pull the wire directly above it then install it in the same position on the new cap and then go one at a time in a clockwise or counter clock wise direction one wire at a time.