1988 Dodge 4x4 coil issue ????s

[moparguy]

Like a dummy, I got caught up in auction fever a year ago and bought the subject short bed, reg cab truck with auto trans, and TBI.



Got it home and the Torqueflight was bad, just finished rebuilding the transmission, now the only way to get it to start is with a jumper wire to the coil.



More info, the wiring was/is really hacked up. No reverse light/nuetral plug, (but I drove it into the shop without one, previous owner had wired around), has a starter button on the dash rather that a start relay. I don't mind the button, just sharing. Considered the rollover safety switch could be part of the problem, but I don't know where it is.



Well, yesterday I jumped the coil, drove it a few miles (no transmission issues ), and just on a impulse, I uncliped the jumper wire, it kept running and even started a couple times, all right, it selfhealed..... But then no start with out the jumper.



At the moment I'm at a loss as to where to check for the faulty connection. The fact that there is a computer involved takes this beyond my comfort range.



One concern is damage I might cause due to the lack of a ballast resistor to cut coil votage to 6 volts while running with the jumper wire connected. Or is one even necessary on this engine?



Any help is appricated.



thanks, RJ

 

[B.G. Smith]

Try removing the big bulhead connector at the firewall by the master cylinder and cleaning the connections, maybe put a little dielectric lube on them. bg