Help Truck Won't Start!

[1969C/10]

My truck will not start. It seems to be getting gas but no spark. I'm no mechanic so I was wondering what my problem could be? I really need to get my truck running. Thanks in advance!

[bryanw1968]

What kind of ignition setup do you have?
If you have an HEI style distributor and it just suddenly stopped working I would guess it is the module that is bad. Again, just a place to start. Verify that you have spark first though before tearing into the distributor.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Pull the spark plugs and see what they look like.

Need more info. Was this a daily driver or has it been sitting for 10 years?
Have you made any changes under the hood recently?

[1969C/10]

This is a daily driver. Only change recently was an oil change

[bryanw1968]

Yah, check the plugs also. Good call.
If they look good, see if you are getting spark buy arching it. If you're not,
pull the distributor cap off and see what the in inside of the cap and the rotor looks like. If that looks good, I replace the ignition module. I've had those go out several times. One minute you're running, the next minute you're not.
Even if you go buy one and it's not the problem, it's not a bad idea have an extra one in the glove compartment.

[toast2112]

hello since no one seemed to have cover it i will put in my 2 cents. if you are still running pionts and not hei, the pionts most likley need to be cleened or replaced. to cleen them remove the distributer cap and the rotor under the cap. make sure the key is off when doing this! whit a small screw driver lightly seperate the concactssothat you can slip a peice of emery cloth or fine sand paper inbetween the contacts. send both of the contacts to clean them. while you have them out, clean the rotor and the inside of the cap. put the rotor back on making sure that the notch is lined up on the distributer, than replace the cap. try to start it if it works great. i hope this helps

[mtndewmaniac66]

You didn't bump any wires by any chance when refilling your oil? I know that the ignition wire is away from the oil fill cap, but you never know when you set an oil bottle on the engine.

[1969C/10]

It is a pointless distibutor and it was running fine after the oil change for a few days. Thanks for all the help I will check some of the other suggestions out tonight.

[Longhorn Man]

Hey man, you want me to swing by this evening?
Pm headin out

[Longhorn Man]

bryanw1968, you got it! It was his module.
I headed out there and was wondering what I'd find, and we got lucky, i just happened to have a small box of HEI parts in my tool box. with the module he needed.
That just means I have too much crap in my tool box.
Put it back together and it fired right up.

[1969C/10]

Andy, Thanks again! You saved me big time on this one!

[rico_vancouver]

Excellent timing for this post. I'm going out this morning to have a first look at what I'm up against with my 68'. Sorry for the newbie question, but where is the ignition module located, and is it readily purchased at any major auto supplier?

I only have diagnostic info from my brother, who isn't the greatest mechanically. Apparently, it has good fuel, battery, starter etc., but simply won't crank.

Thanks,

Rich

[VetteVet]

Here is a website that'll make you an expert on HEI distributors.

http://www.rustpuppy.org/ignition2/Ignition%202b.htm

[iluvmy72]

check your negative battery connection....if it's just a little loose, you'll never get it started!!!

[bryanw1968]

Thanks longhorn man!!
I had a feeling that was what it was.
Thanks for the props!

[Longhorn Man]

Honestly, I always roll my eyes when some one says how "modules always go out"... or "I have to carry a spare module" or what ever.
Now, I've only been running old school engines for 10 years or so, but i have NEVER had one go bad.
Which makes it that much more amazing that I had one in my truck tool box.
Like I said, it just means I carry too much junk.

[bryanw1968]

I hear ya. It's only happened to me twice and I've been messing with trucks for 20 years. If you install a new modual and don't put the white grease on the side that mounts to the inside of the distributor it will get very hot and not last near as long. Which is what happened the 2nd time when it laid down on me. The first time it just barfed from old age.

And b.t.w., you can never have too much junk!
However my wife seems to think I do.

[Longhorn Man]

Yeah, that kinda sucked, I had a used GM mod in the box, but no grease. However, the folowing day he PM'd me sayin he came across some dieelectric grease, asking if that would do it.
I told him how important it was to get it in there, I hope he didn't have any problems getting to it.