[DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...

[Rich Hoppe]

When the starter is driven the voltage drops below the unilite range.  If you add the Costco battery jumper it keeps the voltage high enough to not happen.

Rich

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2020, at 5:01 PM, Larry Stock <larrys at panteraparts.com> wrote:
> 
> The Mallory Unilite ignition was better than most unless it's the one with the ignition module built into the distributor. That one is a dud in Pantera's
> 
> Larry
> 
> 
> On 8/20/20, 4:32 PM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Mike Drew via DeTomaso" <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
> 
>    Garth,
> 
>    Ugh. Unilite.  
> 
>    The stock wiring scheme sends the full 12v to the coil during the starting circuit and then drops down to 9v or so from the run circuit. Is it possible yours is getting only 9v all the time?
> 
>    Personally I wouldn’t spend much time or effort diagnosing an ignition problem with a Unilite installed. A Unilite IS an ignition problem IMHO.....
> 
>    Mike (had a Unilite on my Pantera when I first bought it and frequently had starting problems....)
> 
>    Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Aug 20, 2020, at 15:52, Garth Rodericks via DeTomaso <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
>> 
>>    Sending this to the brain-trust for some collective wisdom on where and
>>  what to check first before I drop $100 on a new battery...
>>  The Problem:
>>  The engine will crank and crank and crank, but it won't light/fire.
>>  Only when I release the key from the 'start' position after 10-20
>>  seconds of cranking, it sounds like it just tries to light for a
>>  seconds, but doesn't catch.
>>  The battery is an Optima Red top, but I'm not sure how old it is. Date
>>  code is 6033, which most likely means 2/2/2016.  I don't remember
>>  replacing the battery only 4 years ago, but I must have.
>>  Battery voltage before cranking = 12.4v to 12.55v
>>  I believe voltage in the 12.0-12.4v range means it's low.  It also
>>  doesn't seem to hold a charge long, so I expect it's sulfated.
>>  If I add my little portable battery booster ($60 from Costo), it will
>>  usually start.
>>  The engine doesn't crank any faster, but the engine fires this time.
>>  I was thinking I might need a new battery, but wanted to see if there's
>>  something else I should check first before dropping $100 on a battery.
>>  The ignition is a Pantera Electronics Electronic Ignition System (EIS)
>>  with a Mallory Unilite distributor (with a newer module).
>>  Thanks!
>>  Garth
>>  #4033
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