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1966 Dodge Charger, 383, with Chrysler electronic ignition. The car was running when I put it in the warehouse last fall but would not run very much when I went to get it in April. I could get it started but it would die. If it was running and I put it in gear, the engine died. I then found burned wires in the harness. I replaced the harness but no go, I have replaced the ICU, distributor, coil, and battery. Still no go. I have done the steps in SD video No Spark Troubleshooting [Mopar Electronic Ignition with Ballast Resistor]. Everything checks out up the point of checking the - (neg) side of the coil. I put the test light on the - (neg) side of the coil and it only flashes intermittently. I also put the spark gap tester on the HV output of the coil and again only intermittently shows a spark. I even went back to a points distributor and still no spark. I did not do the neg side coil test with the test light or the HV output test. I have noticed that while cranking the engine, the battery cable shows some smoke. Could it be the starter causing the problem?
Last edit: 1 week 2 days ago by chargerman1. Reason: error
I'll be the first to admit that I don't know anything about these "simple" antique cars. Give me a 10 year old Jeep or Chevy no com over anything that came with a distributor and carburetor any day.
I've got nothing for you regarding intermittent spark on that system, but smoking battery cables sounds like a poor connection (terminal, block or chassis ground, incorrect small gauge cables) or mechanical resistance against the starter (high compression, seized belt driven accessories or possibly incorrect ignition timing).
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