You are here:

Classic/Antique Car Repair/1953 Nash Statesman - No Spark

Advertisement

Expert: - 6/1/2011


Question
Car sat for winter and now, after having a charged battery, it will not start.  Replaced the coil and voltage regulator - no go...

Any ideas?  Thanks much!  This was my father's car and he passed last summer and that was the last time it was driven.

Answer
I would start in the distributor checking and replacing the points and condenser. Adjust the points and make sure that voltage is going through them. Then check the flow of fuel through the fuel pump. At that time check the automatic choke to be sure that it is closed when cranking the cold engine. Once it is determined that fuel is flowing from the fuel pump into the carburetor make sure that the accelerator pump in the carburetor is working. This can be checked by holding the choke open with the engine not cranking, and using a flash light look down into the carburetor bore while pumping the gas pedal. There should be a squirt of gas each time the gas pedal is pumped. With all this done the engine should run.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.