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1983 245 - Wires from ECU to distributor shorted something? 200

I've had a small bucking problem only going up hill in 3rd or 4th gears. Then all of a sudden it started to do it alot at all speeds. I was lucky to make it home where my other 244 had its drive shaft removed. Lucky for me I had just returned from the shop where the bearing was pressed on and off. A couple hours later I was mobile again.

I thought it could be the in tank pump so I filled it up with fuel on the way home. No help. I have a chrysler white cap distributor that caused me a similiar problem when the connection from it to the harness wasn't tightly secured. As I was moving it around the engine was clearly being effected so I turned off the engine for a better look. As I moved the wiring I could hear sparks as it rubbed against the engine block until no more shorting out could be heard. I wrapped it all up in electrical tape. Wires from ecu in engine bay where not protected too well with failiing insulation on I guess what is called the ignition harness, I replaced the main last year. I replaced the 25 amp fuse after inspecting its poor condition. Unplugged the battery for hopes it would reset something. Moved the wiring hoping for a change but nothing. I'm just surprised my $10 battery has held up with all the cranking. I've got another exact ecu but was hoping for some comments before I start swapping. I was thinking it might have fried it some how. Thanks.








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    1983 245 - Wires from ECU to distributor shorted something? 200

    I inspected the wiring to the distributor and found a small pin head sized piece of wiring showing through on the plug that plugs into the white Chrysler distributor. The top piece on the distributor is new and grounded properly. I retaped all the wires and still nothing. I tried checking for spark and couldn't see anything coming from the ignition wire to the dist or at the coil. I switched out the coil and still no go. I switched out my ecu in the engine bay and no change.

    The main pump is not coming on when I attempt to start the car. I read in the archive the following.

    "You must determine if it's missing spark or missing fuel. (Of course, when the spark quits, the fuel automatically cuts off.)"

    Is this why my pump is not turning on? I jumped the intank pump and it works. Does fuse 7 in the 83 jump the main pump? Tried to jump it and nothing. The 25 amp fuse is new although I wonder about the holder.

    I know I heard a shorting/spark when moving the wires around near the distributor. What would that short out. All fuses are good. Sorry for the long posts. I don't want to change out the pump. Thanks in advance.








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      Solved 200

      I moved the wire and plug from the white cap distributor around the front of the distributor causing it to bend the other direction from the way it had been running. I plugged it into the wiring harness so it was stretched tight around the front of the distributor. The car ran great without the hiccups going up hill. Has smoother accelleration as well.

      I'm guessing that the next thing to do is to just swap it out for a bosch. Earlier today I pulled the ECU to Dist harness for a 84 bosch and got the distributor out about a half inch before it got stuck. I flooded it with PB blaster and left it for another day.







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