I presume it is cranking as you are looking for a spark but not getting one.
A 79 should have one of the 'electronic' ignition systems and you mention
the 45DE (sic). This was very fault-prone and a lot have been replaced by
now, maybe your neighbours has decided now is the time.
Does the fuel gauge register when you turn on the ignition? If not, and it
worked before, check the ignition relay by looking for 12v on the
brown/white at the fusebox.
If that is OK connect the coil HT lead to a plug laying on the block and
crank. If you get a good spark there the problem is with the distributor
cap, rotor or plug leads.
If not disconnect all wires from the coil -ve and make sure you have voltage
on the coil +ve and -ve terminals with the ignition on. If not on the +ve
the ballast resistor, which is actually a length of resistance wire
contained within the loom, may have failed although this is unlikely. If on
the +ve but not the -ve the coil primary is open circuit.
Now flash a ground wire on the coil -ve and should get a lot of sparking at
that terminal plus a weak yellow spark from the coil HT lead held close to a
ground (watch your fingers!). If all that works then the problem is with
the trigger and/or electronics of the 45DE, about all you can do now is to
confirm that there is 12v on the white and white/blue (possibly less than
12v on here) going into the distributor and continuity of the white/black.
----- Original Message -----
From: "dave houser" <mgs4dave@warwick.net>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 12:25 PM
Subject: 79 B-no start
> Listers,
> A neighbor with a 79 B asked me for some advice regarding his B's not
> starting.
> Here's the story.
> the car is in town at a shop that just replaced his battery. went to
> pick it up and it doesn't start. seems their mechanics couldn't help
> except to test for spark at the coil and it seems there was spark there.
> Ditto on getting fuel. I went with him to lay my hands upon it and have
> it miraculously start, not. I pulled a plug and got not spark, nadda.
> Smelled fuel at the plug and when we crank it.
> I opened the distributor which I admit is foreign to me(I only play with
> B's up to 67! Beyond that I admit to nothing beyond the basics.
> I checked a Moss catalog and find that parts are unobtainium for that
> model distributor(45ED?). Looked very foreign to me. Air gaps?
> To sum up, the car ran well before he had a new battery installed. I
> suggested he put the old one back in and see what happens :>)
> Any ideas to pass along to him will be appreciated.
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