I'm thinking its the fuel pump???

[cl_miata]

Well yesterday on the way to work the midget let me down... was going 60-65 when I noticed the engine started spuddering and the spuddering got worse and the speed dropped... since I was only 3 miles from work I kept hoping it would make it, but no such luck. I pulled over, turned the car off, and it would no longer start again, just crank. got it home, and that night it started, but with difficulty, and only ran about a minute before dieing... wouldn't start at all today when I tried. I haven't looked into it all that much, but the fuel pump is not original, I know that much. essentially, all a engine needs is fuel air and spark... air is a given, and it seems like if it was a spark issue it would have just died, not slowly died.

 

[JPSmit]

should be an easy diagnosis - disconnect the fuel line at the carb, turn over the engine and see what comes out

 

[jhorton3]

Do you hear any noise coming from the fuel pump? I had one die like that last year. It would run for a little while, but not enough to build any pressure then stop.

 

[cl_miata]

Well I took the line off at the little box with the float inside? and fuel came pouring out with the ignition on, and I could hear the pump. Took off the spark plug and checked for spark, everything okay there, sprayed either into the carb, and tried starting still no luck... this is kinda odd, well for me atleast

 

[tweety]

coil? Points?

 

[cl_miata]

would a bad coil still create spark, but not enough to have it fire?

 

[tweety]

I think of it only because of the intermittent nature of the problem. Could it be just at the edge of good and bad? Ballast resistor?

I had similar issues (seemed like the car ran out of gas) I changed the coil and some sketchy wiring and the issue disappeared.

 

[nomad]

I fought a hard starting MGB for years till it finally left me sitting by the side of the road. It was still a mystery to me because it had spark.
Would not start and run, though, even on ether. Tryed everything till I swapped a coil off of a junk car and it took right off. Fitted a Lucas sport coil and could'nt tell it was the same car.
Is the color of the spark nice and white? If not it may be worth a temporary substitution to check.
KA

 

[bgbassplyr]

A plug in the open air will spark with an iffy coil, but under compression, will not.
Grab the plug terminal, ground yourself to the car, turn the engine over. If it bites you and hurts, coil is bad. If good, it should knock your pants off. lol

 

[cl_miata]

Alrighty, well thanks guys.... though I think i'll stay away from the grounding myself out test, i get migraines enough as it is lol. Advance's website show they have a delco coil kept in stock in stores, so will pick one up, and a points / rotor / condenser set. I also am currently working on the front frame (completely rotted out) and repairing all the rust... I really hope to get this going by August with any luck

 

[nomad]

Remember that a spridget requires a coil that does not use a ballast resistor like most american vehicles. You will end up with reduced point's life if you fit the resistor type permanatly.
KA

 

[cl_miata]

I picked up a coil from adavance... not sure if it has a resistor in it or not, it doesnt say, but the guy told me if my points start getting eatin that I can take it back. but i did install the coil and still no start

 

[startech47]

Did you do any work to the car before it quit running? If you have SU carbs. on your engine I would turn on the ignition for about 30 seconds and than turn the ignition off. Now take off the fuel line going to the carbs. and remove the 3 screws and the carb. float bowl covers. Is there any gas in the float bowls? If there is is there any dirt in the bottom of the bowls? If so you need to clean it out. Is the jet clean? If yo remove the dampener chambers be very careful not to bend the thin brass needles. What year is your car? Check inside the distributor cap for any metal dust. Can you rotate the distributor by hand? DO not loosen any fasteners when you try this. Look at the thin wires going to and inside the distributor and coil. Is there any damage to them?

 

[cl_miata]

Back when I was checking for fuel pressure I took the float bowl covers off and yes there was fuel and it was all clean in there. Not sure about the jet though (spraying ether and then it still not starting should eliminate any fuel related problems anyways) My car is a 1969, although, should a 69 have the round rear wheel wells? Will investigate the other things today hopefully if I finish servicing my dads trans on his vette (advance sold me the wrong parts)