Ignition problem?? I think ..

My 72 was running fine.. Then out of know where it would be running and die.. U can turn the key on to engage the starter and it will run. As soon as you let off the key in the on position ( where it is suppose to stay running ) it dies.. I rebuilt the carb and no change. In the process of changing celenoid.. Any thoughts on this issue..

 

Ignition switch contacts are bad?

MD

 

Was gonna start with celenoid hoping that would be it.. But had a not so fresh feeling it would be the ignition switch..

 

Do u half to pull the steering wheel to get the ignition switch off?

 

The solenoid will not cause a start & die issue, in this case it's apparently the only source for voltage to coil when cranking(meaning it's functioning)... You likely have a failure in the primary feed to coil... Check to see if there is voltage at coil with ign on, if not troubleshoot ign switch and related wiring...

No it's on top of steering column just under dash...

 

I finally got it running, but at idle it would run anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes and the car would just die like you shut the key off.. I guess there is a short somewhere.. Damn it..

 

Not necessarily so. If your car runs for 5 minutes then dies there could be a number of issues, the least of which is a short.

 

I know it's not a fuel problem.. I have changed the celenoid.. Going through the process of elimination, I would say it is either in the distributor ( which is new ), ignition or the wiring in between.. Will know more tommorow when I tie into it..

 

still sounds like Ignition switch contacts sticking...
try lubing the plunger.

 

That's a pretty good idea.. Is there 1 lube better than another??

 

I actually fixed this same exact problem tonight. But mine was due to clogged vacuum advance and spark plug wires crossing and not getting full charge.

 

Instead of chasing your tail, you should be checking for constant voltage at coil when running...

 

I ran down a short once by wiring a LED light into the Ignition system. my problem was a shut off for a second while running.
it would do it 3-4 times in 20 miles going down the interstate. it was a break in the hot wire coming from the switch.
the bulb was held on by the wiper blade and would blink when the short happened. ...

 

Sweet!!!!!!

 

the reason to test like this was I had a fuel problem once that did the same thing. it would run down the road and shut off. I would coast to the side of the interstate and it would start back up before it even stopped. it would do it once a month to 5 times a day. the last day returning from a 200 mile trip (hadn't done it in a month) it did it 8 times in the last 12 miles...
by then I was grabbing at straws...
found the problem by accident...