Temp gauge climbs to the max as I try starting the car. Car won't run.

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supersoap33

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Just replaced the distributor and the car doesn't want to run. It will crank and sort of sputter if I give it fuel, but that's it. And I didn't gap the distributor because I assumed that it came from the manufacturer pre gapped.

Like I said, the temp gauge just climbs to the max and won't stop until I cease cranking it. I don't know what's wrong. Most of the wiring looks to be hooked up right after I pulled the intake manifold and put it back on. I don't know what the issue is.
 
Does the fuel gauge work? They are fed by the same IVR --instrument voltage limiter/ regulator. Try pulling the temp sensor wire off at the engine that should cause gauge to stay "cold."
What kind of ignition system is this? Mopar breakerless, GM HEI module, etc etc
Have you checked spark?

"What do you mean" "replaced distributor?" What was there before, and had it been working, etc

Have you made any wiring changes or repairs?

Bear in mind that "new' (rebuilt) does not mean "functional"
 
67Dart273 said:
Does the fuel gauge work? They are fed by the same IVR --instrument voltage limiter/ regulator. Try pulling the temp sensor wire off at the engine that should cause gauge to stay "cold."
What kind of ignition system is this? Mopar breakerless, GM HEI module, etc etc
Have you checked spark?

"What do you mean" "replaced distributor?" What was there before, and had it been working, etc

Have you made any wiring changes or repairs?

Bear in mind that "new' (rebuilt) does not mean "functional"
Click to expand...

Fuel gauge works fine. I mean I bought a new distributor and put it in the car. I'll try pulling the temp sensor wire and get back to you.
 
67Dart273 said:
Does the fuel gauge work? They are fed by the same IVR --instrument voltage limiter/ regulator. Try pulling the temp sensor wire off at the engine that should cause gauge to stay "cold."
What kind of ignition system is this? Mopar breakerless, GM HEI module, etc etc
Have you checked spark?

"What do you mean" "replaced distributor?" What was there before, and had it been working, etc

Have you made any wiring changes or repairs?

Bear in mind that "new' (rebuilt) does not mean "functional"
Click to expand...

I pulled the wire off of the temp sending unit (assuming that is the little thing on the front of the intake manifold with the stud sticking out) and the gauge stays at zero now. Does that mean I need to replace the unit?

Battery is also completely shot after less than two years. **** O'Reileys. I've never had a battery go out less than three years after I bought it.
 
66fyssh said:
What year and model are you working on? What distributor did you buy?
Click to expand...

It's a 74 Duster with a 318. The distributor is a 70 dollar model from RockAuto. Went in fine. I'm going to double check the timing. The gap looks really good on it. And I just found out that my battery was on it's last leg so I guess I'm replacing this piece of **** after less than 2 years in the ******* car.
 
You need some help and some patience! Start by cussing less and lets get all the facts out!
 
If you pulled the wiring from the temp sending unit
and the gauge didn’t move then sounds like the sending unit has no resistance to ground. Do you have a multi meter? Check the resistance in ohms from the terminal post on the sender to ground. cold engine should be at or above 72 ohms if it’s zero or near it the sender needs replaced.
 
Well the OP hasn't bothered to come back, so..................................
 
67Dart273 said:
Well the OP hasn't bothered to come back, so..................................
Click to expand...

here the **** I am, Dart. And it was the water temp sensor. That's it. I didn't need to ******* know the entire car's electrical system to replace a sensor.

You go overboard with everything all the time, Dart. Whenever it's one thing, you want to talk about 6 other things and completely run me away from the solution. If you don't know, then go bother someone else on another ******* page.
 
1969383S is correct in requesting the elimination of the vulgarity as there is no need for it. There are young people, ladies, and gentlemen reading these posts. A suggestion(s) offered by a fellow member, who has taken the time to post, does not mean one has to follow them as that is your choice. Good day.
 
Enjoying it again said:
1969383S is correct in requesting the elimination of the vulgarity as there is no need for it. There are young people, ladies, and gentlemen reading these posts. A suggestion(s) offered by a fellow member, who has taken the time to post, does not mean one has to follow them as that is your choice. Good day.
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Bro, All I can Say is " Wow man..." totally uncalled for... 67Dart273 is a walking encyclopedia of Mopar Electrical info. We're Blessed to have him here!
 
You sound angry I can relate. These new batteries are junk. Someone on here said the green tops are better as they were at their factory and seen the difference. What I found is to keep a battery tender on them and they will last. I use the Battery Tender brand I really like them. And I purchased 2 new batteries from Costco for my diesel and one went to **** 3 or 4 months later. Had my wife take it back and they gave her a bunch of crap but she won in the end. You should also check on the warranty some had 2 or 3 year free replacement.
 
Did you get the temp sender replaced?
 
Last edited:
cudascott said:
I think Del does a heck of a job explaining the circuits and problems guys encounter here with their rides.
If only we had a carb guru here that went through the trouble to go above and beyond to explain what our problem is and if not that then it’s this etc.
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Right here. But most people don't want to go thru all the trouble I must require to properly troubleshoot the problem. It's a lot more work and sometimes best left to professionals. Also you can't tune a carb when you have other problems or just a bad combination. And spark plug reading are useless when your valves or guides are worn or low compression and check it with a $20.00 gauge. And the list goes on and on.
 
Just posting this in case anyone else having the same issue stumbles across this thread. It was the ballast resistor. If you lights are dimming and the battery is draining rapidly while you're giving it gas, then it's likely the ballast resistor. I was stumped until I talked to the car's previous owner and he said it was one of the main reasons why he wired the ballast resistor out of the ignition/charging circuit. I rewired it back in over the summer because I was convinced that that's why it wasn't starting. It turned out THEN that it wasn't starting because the timing was 180 degrees out or slightly off.

So to recap: battery is draining until dead, lights are only going bright when you're pumping the gas pedal and the car dies if you stop pumping the pedal... it's likely the ballast resistor.

And I don't mean to be mean to everyone on here, but it's very aggravating to have to check 15 different things to find a solution when I'm really just looking for someone with case specific experience regarding my specific set of issues. I try to be as descriptive as possible when describing the issues that I post about here, and most people say "ground wire" like there's only one and I know where it is. If you're not being descriptive, then maybe pass on answering. Or if you've never had this issue before, also... maybe go find somewhere else to post your advice.

And also, the distributor I bought came set up and gapped appropriately. I didn't have to adjust anything. It was already at .008.
 
I'm glad Ya got yer Mopar Running! The thing is, it's really hard to diagnose over, in my case a phone, or in others, a monitor. Everyone Here had YOUR Best interests, for You AND your Ride. Yes, ya can go Crazy chasing Ghosts, but the it's also a process of Eliminating possible issues.
It only takes a second to double check 8 thou. With Brass, not steel. I, myself, Love and Respect my Brothers Here. and will Always take any Realistic Action given by solid Advice! Glad Yer Runnin
 
Oh and Dell, (67Dart273) is a United States Navy Veteran, in his 70s...have some Respect, that Man has Forgotten MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW! try NOT TO BE AN ***, OK????
 
1969383S said:
You need some help and some patience! Start by cussing less and lets get all the facts out!
Click to expand...
Says the member flippin everybody off in his avatar picture. Classy.
 
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