Expert: jack bahm - 12/18/2010

Question
I jumpstarted my '66 Plymouth Fury III backwards and saw a bunch of smoke from the firewall area and now the car won't start.  Any suggestions?  I have checked the fuses.  Am I looking at a new wiring harness?  Should I be looking for an inline fuse?  I do have power to my headlights.  When I hit the key the charge needle drops, but nothing turns over.  Can you help?

Answer
I think you blew your electronic ignition control module.  It is a little square black box mounted on the fire wall.  The harness should be OK.  There may be a fuse in the batt cable not too far from the batt.  I don't think it would blow.  But it should still crank over.  Better look at the starter cable.  Put power straight to the starter and see if it will run.  You are going to have to chase this thing around the circuit.  See how far the voltage goes.  Better still, find a chrysler/Plymouth car club and join it.  They will have all the answers.  I will give you a site where they might answer your question.
Good luck.
jack

http://www.chryslerclub.org/