Expert: Dick Benjamin - 11/19/2008

Question
I changed spark plugs now she wont start, just keeps turning over. Thanks Andrea

Answer
The most likely cause is that a wire got disconnected so that there is no spark coming out of the coil.  If you have access to a voltmeter, check the terminals on the coil to see if there is -6 volts on the terminal that comes from the ignition switch (with the ignition turned on).  If there is not, the engine won't run.  If there is voltage there, check on the wire from the + terminal of the coil that goes to the side of the distributor. There should be a voltage there that varys from 0 to -6 volts as you slowly turn the engine by hand or with a crank - thus signifying that the distributor is connected and operating properly.   If you do not see that varying voltage at the low tension wire into the distributor, you need to have a look into the distributor and all its connections - something has gotten disconnected somewhere - it's just pure detective work to track it down.

There are a couple of other, extremely unlikely things that could have gone wrong, which I will mention here just in case:

When you installed the new spark plugs, did they seem to thread in OK and tighten up?  Does the engine crank over at about the same speed as before, or does it crank much faster?   If it does, it is possible that the new plugs are not sealing right.

Did you check that the spark plug gaps were set correctly before you installed them?  The spec is 0.035" - but it is not very critical - if it looks to be somewhere around the thickness of a match book cover, it is close enough that the engine should run.  The only thing that would keep it from running would be that the electrodes had been bumped so that they were in contact with each other, thus shorting out the spark.

Let me know what you find by poking around, and I may be able to help further.

Dick