1976 still won't start

[MichaelJones]

Still not getting power to the fuel pump, but the car will turn over and will run...if I hold the key in the starting position. As soon as I let go of the key, the car dies. I was initially thiking I had problems between the coil and the solenoid, but now I wonder if it's not something else. As you can see, I know nothing about the electrical aspects of the car. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[leecreek]

I don't know much about Midgets, but on the '66 CJ I rebuilt that was the ballast resistor bad syndrome.

 

[jlaird]

Fuel pump power should be from a spot that is always hot when the key is on.

I suggest that it is your switch.

 

[Roger]

Second vote for ballast resistor. Try bypassing it temporarily - it should continue running but don't let it go on too long or you'll overheat the coil.

 

[Sarastro]

Two words: test light.

Check to make sure you're getting power at the fuse block. One fuse should be hot all the time and the other only when the ign switch is on. If that's OK, and the fuses are not blown, I agree with the possibility of a bad ballast resistor. You can get a multimeter from Harbor Freight for $7 and check it with the ohmmeter.