When I turn the ignition on and start the engine, as soon as I release the key, the barrel rolls back to the left about .5 to 1mm and the engine shuts off. I thought that this was maybe due to the worn ignition barrel [which was dodgy and did nead replacing anyway], so I went and bought a new one, but it still does it.
So basically, I can't start my car. It's a '75 XB Fairmont. With the ignition barrel which has the wingnut-style head [two arms that stick out either side of the key slot].
sorry mate, not familiar with the wingnut style key barrel! I'll try and get the ball rolling anyway.
Have you tried wiring it manually to check that you don't have dodgy wiring? did this problem just start happening one day, or have you changed something? if it still does it with a new barrell than the problem is probably elsewhere!
yeah i reckon i know whats wrong but i'm not that familiar with much before XD. this is quite common o older cars with points distributors, they have full 12v to start(while cranking) and run on 10v(i think) when ign is "on" nothing to do with barrel IMO, there is a ballast resistor that reduces voltage but i don't know where it would be on XBs. theres no doubt that if you ran a wire from + battery to + coil and started it would keep running, dont ever leave wire on when engine not running as coil will EXPLODE if not continually dicharging.
if you can find someone who knows where the ballast resistor is i bet this will be your prob good luck
Got the car towed to an auto elecs today. Getting it onto the truck meant taking it out of park and into neutral, which can't be done unless the ignition is on. Turned the key, released the handbrake, moved the stick to 'N', got it on the truck, put it in park, handbrake on, turned the key to the 'off' position and that's when the smoke started to piss out from under the dash.
Popped the bonnet, disconnected the battery, got it to the auto elec and now I've just gotta hope for the best.
Got the car towed to an auto elecs today. Getting it onto the truck meant taking it out of park and into neutral, which can't be done unless the ignition is on. Turned the key, released the handbrake, moved the stick to 'N', got it on the truck, put it in park, handbrake on, turned the key to the 'off' position and that's when the smoke started to piss out from under the dash.
Popped the bonnet, disconnected the battery, got it to the auto elec and now I've just gotta hope for the best.
had plenty of electrical fires personally bu not from your symtoms, sorry to hear that, but i would be good if you can let us knowwhat they said was the problem if you don't mind(when you find out of corse)
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