Stalls when turning left

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:49 pm

Hey all,

This past weekend I......rather a friend, installed a Pertronix electronic ignition kit and coil. We had a little difficulty getting the car to start properly after installation. Had to put a jumper on 2 wires behind the ignition switch. The previous owner had a mess back there. I don't think the switch is original to the car but can't be sure. At any rate, when all was said and done, the car started perfect and ran perfect, even better than I had hoped. Never missed a beat. The next day, I took it upon myself to help the mess behind the switch. I untwisted the wires one by one and and cleaned, reconnected and soldered and put heat shrink on the wires.

Now the problem: After working on the switch the car starts and begins running perfectly still but at certain times will stall completely for just a moment. After driving around, I realized the car only stalls after making a left turn. Not right nor straight, only left. I am thinking something is against the steering causing it to bind or pull or short somehow, but at this point, I have not found anything at all. Turning the steering wheel in the garage does not shed light on anything. Can anyone give me other ideas or something specific to check. Its really driving me crazy and any advise would be appreciated.

And, yes, I could drive all over town making only right hand turns but that would be a pain

Walter

keith0alan · Post by **keith0alan** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:57 pm

Try wiggling the key around when it's running. Could be a bad ignition switch. Then grab wires one at a time, wiggle and pull. Hopefully you can find something you can do in the driveway to cause the problem.

keith

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:43 pm

keith0alan wrote:Try wiggling the key around when it's running. Could be a bad ignition switch. Then grab wires one at a time, wiggle and pull. Hopefully you can find something you can do in the driveway to cause the problem.

keith

Cannot replicate the problem in the garage. All the wiggling, pounding and steering wheel turning will not cause it to stall while sitting in the garage idling.

keith0alan · Post by **keith0alan** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:14 pm

Try the wires down by the distributor. Another thought is to make sure it is ignition. Hook a volt meter to the distributor with long wires. If the voltage drops to zero when it dies you are getting close.

keith

datsun1500 · Post by **datsun1500** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:46 pm

Are you using the turn signals? Might be a short there.

Are the wires to the distributor too short? Pressure from the motor shifting could do it.

Fairlady66 · Post by **Fairlady66** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:09 am

Don't turn left!

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:26 am

Fairlady66 wrote:Don't turn left!

Very funny!!!!

Actually, that is what I told my daughter by telephone yesterday when she was leaving school......to choose a route home by only making left turns. She said "I can't do that!". I said "Of course you can. You may drive 10 miles out of the way to get home, but it can be done". Of course I was only kidding. We only live about a mile and half from school with one left turn.

nomadtrash · Post by **nomadtrash** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:03 pm

Check the fuel level.

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:33 pm

nomadtrash wrote:Check the fuel level.

Full............to the rim.

Post by **dbrick** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:11 pm

Punt.

Just kidding. Does it matter if it's a fast, high G left or gentle turn? As Mark said, does turnsignal usage make a difference? (not common here). Sounds like time for the big parking lot. If it's a sudden cutout, look for electrical, especially the coil neg wire grounding. If it's ANY left turn, slow, fast, no turnsignal no other factors, I would CAREFULLY make a hot wire from batt pos to the ballast resistor. Tape it up well, Put a 10 amp fuse inline if you want to be extra safe, test in a parking lot. If it doesn't stall, then go back to the wiring under the column and start looking.

good Luck

EScanlon · Post by **EScanlon** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:15 pm

Since the last item you worked on was the wiring, could you have pulled on the harness or other connection such that now, when you turn left, the car's body flexing or something shifting is pulling something far enough to break it's connection?

In my book, you need to go back and look at the work you effected. Both at the Dizzy area (due to the Pertronix install) and the Ignition Switch area.

At the Pertronix install, it may be that you have a loose bearing in the dizzy causing the sensor to push itself out of the sensing range of the sensing coil. It could also be a wire connection nearby. Did you leave the Resistor in the circuit? Is it in good condition and not causing the problem.

FWIW
E

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:48 pm

EScanlon wrote:Did you leave the Resistor in the circuit?

I removed the resistor. The instructions supplied with the coil stated to remove the resistor for 4 and 6 cyl engines. I am going to do a little more test driving this weekend trying left turns with and without the turn signal. I am going to rig wires from the coil to a test light and see if the light goes out or stays lit when it stalls. I just have not had the time to do much more looking during the week. A big thanks to all for the advise. Certainly gave me a lot more to think about and chew on. I will see how it goes this weekend and report back.

wgb1 · Post by **wgb1** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:30 pm

OK, this is where I am at now. I drove the car around for a bit and determined that turn signal usage or lack of has no effect on the stalling. Also it does not matter at what speed you take a turn whether it be slow or fast. Faster does seem to make the stalling more prolonged where as a slow left turn makes the stall short lived. I rigged a light bulb with long wires and alligator clips. The light remains lit at all times when hooked to the positive side of the coil even when the car stalls. So I guess the problem would be between the coil and switch??????? Sorry for the mundane questions but I am really not much of a mechanic although I do sometimes enjoy the challenges this car throws my way. I am learning a lot in a short time and this board is a big help!

Thanks again,

Walter

Post by **ppeters914** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:05 pm

Damn, this one is getting interesting. I don't know, but I bet it's something really simple or very esoteric.

Look forward to the solution.

keith0alan · Post by **keith0alan** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:56 pm

If the light stayed lit then the coil is getting power and the problem is not between the switch and the coil. If it is ignition is should be between the posative terminal on the coil and in the distributor. Check the wire going from the negative terminal of the coil to the distributor. Also check the wiring inside the distributor. Check your distributor shaft for wobble. It's a long shot but if the shaft is moving around the Pertronics pickup might be getting out of range. Make sure the ignition coil is mounted solidly.

That's about all I can think of for now.

keith