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Tips
Tips

Healey Won't Start - No Spark

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I received the coil today, installed and the car started with no problem :smile:, however, now the gas gauge is not giving a reading at all. I know they're not reliable to begin with but I would like it to work (somewhat). Any suggestions on what to look at for this?
 
I'd first check the 35 amp fuse in the fuse block and then the wiring between the gauge and the sending unit. The sending unit is a variable resistor, something like zero to 90 ohms or so. Barney Gaylord's MGA Guru website has some good articles on debugging this issue.
 
Thank you Bob. I’ll check the site out. Im not crazy about this happening but I am enjoying learning more and more about the car.
 
I think I would hook the other coil up also. Just to be sure my spare worked also.
 
John Turney said:
Since there are five or six circuits protected by that fuse, you may want to keep a spare fuse until you find out what blew the first one.
Click to expand...
....which is a great argument for installing an auxiliary fuse panel to create separate circuits which can be protected at proper values vs a whopping 35 amp'er. You may as well use a nail!
 
You need to rewire the car for better protection from a wiring harness fire. See pics.

Couple of hours work once you have the parts, cleaner firewall, better protection, easier troubleshooting, and room for accessories to be added. Cost is maybe $30 tops, and that's a whole lot cheaper than replacing a wiring harness or worse, and don’t forget an in-line fuse carrier in the boot for the licence plate lamp in case you get rear ended and it shorts out the wiring.
 

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BigMac--

Do yourself a favor and take HN's advice. There is nothing good about an inoperative or burned Healey!

Since I have a five-speed conversion, alternator, air horn and other visible mods I am not a stickler for original appearance and I placed two six-circuit blade-type fuse blocks on the engine side of the firewall in the way of the two original fuse holders. One is for circuits switched by the ignition and the other for those hot all the time. Opinions vary but I fuse everything that carries current including the headlights.

If you are into originality do it the way HN shows on the cockpit side of the firewall.
 
Healey Nut said:
You need to rewire the car for better protection from a wiring harness fire. See pics.

Couple of hours work once you have the parts, cleaner firewall, better protection, easier troubleshooting, and room for accessories to be added. Cost is maybe $30 tops, and that's a whole lot cheaper than replacing a wiring harness or worse, and don’t forget an in-line fuse carrier in the boot for the licence plate lamp in case you get rear ended and it shorts out the wiring.
Click to expand...
Very cool!what kind of parts list am I looking at here?
 
One in line fuse holder for licence plate lamp($3ish) , 2 multi fuse blocks (Amazon about 20$ ) some wire and selection of fuses to suit the fuse blocks
 
I used two of these--one for circuits that are switched by the ignition such as fan motor, fuel pump(s), turn signals, etc and one for circuits not so switched such as head and side lights, horn, etc.

 
I will have to see if I can get a friend or two to help me with this as I am not experienced with this (although owning the car is giving me a great learn as I go experience). I really like the idea of this though. Seems much better than what I have now.
 
Healey Nut said:
One in line fuse holder for licence plate lamp($3ish) , 2 multi fuse blocks (Amazon about 20$ ) some wire and selection of fuses to suit the fuse blocks
Click to expand...
Read the Healey Marque magazine that recently came out about electrical circuits protection modifications. Column was by Bill Young with my Fuseblock shown with vendor information.
 
I’m not a fan of bundling wires with zip ties. Especially wires that are all the same color. If you are rewiring your car yourself spend the money on a few different colored wires and create a diagram or a table telling you what color went to what device. If you have to use the same color for more than one device, try to keep it in the same category, like lights or accessories.
 
I also had a similar issue. Midget (73, 1275) shut off while idling in the driveway and would not restart. coil tested good, but I was unable to find a helper to turn key, so I could check for spark. Parts replacement identified the condenser as the culprit.
 
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