weird spark

71Newp

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My 76 360 Cordoba won't start. I had purchased a new distributor pick up so I took the cap and rotor off and disconnected the coil wire to look around a little. I did not replace the distributor pick-up. When I tried to start it it wouldn't start. I had forgotten to connect the coil wire. Hooked up the coil wire and still won't start. It is getting fuel (wet plugs) so I hooked up a spark tester. When I try to start it I get a single flash AFTER I release the key from start to run. I have replaced the ballast resistor (just 'cause I had one on hand - don't we all?) even though the problem seems to be the opposite of a bad resistor. I also replaced the starter relay - same problem (both with the car and the ham-fisted idiot trying to fix it!!!)
 
Simple start to find the problem, Take a test light and verify you have power to the coil in the RUN position. If you do then the problem is in the secondary circuit, unplug your distributor from the harness, put the coil wire where you can see a spark, and take a jumper wire and touch from the negative side of the coil to ground, If you then get a spark from the coil your pickup coil is bad.
 
You might also check the Ign switch. Run a wire from bat + to the coil and see if it will then start and run.
 
Thanks to all. Business travel has kept me out of the garage for a while. I have purchased a remote starter so I can be checking the tester more easily, unfortunately it did not come with directions for our era or cars. How do I hook this up for a 76 non-leanburn stock ignition system (a bolt at the top, a tab in the middle and 2 tabs at the bottom of the starter relay). What gets unplugged, what stays connected and what do I hook the starter to? thanks again.
Tim
 
UPDATE: Last fall I got out my FSM and checked the ignition system. A buddy and I checked it again this spring... he ran the test this time...Everything checks out. Coil, Dist pick-up, ICM. He also confirmed that there is no spark when the starter is engaged, but we do get spark in the run position. But of course not enough cylinders fire to get it running. When I use a remote starter I get no spark at all (yes I did this with the ignition switch in the "run" position.) I have followed the start circuit wherever the brown wire is visible. I replaced the starter and get the same symptoms. Any ideas? Thanks
 
Points to ECU, I think the five wire ones have a separate starting circuit. I may be wrong on that.
 
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