[DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...

[Craig Campman]

Had the same problem of no start while cranking with a Unilite module in my Pantera. Traced it to no starting voltage on ignition system during cranking as the wire from the starter solenoid to the coil was missing due to rewiring by previous owner.
Adding a wire from the righthand small terminal on the starter solenoid to the plus side of the coil/unilite solved the problem. This gives full battery voltage to the ignition during cranking. My engine now starts reliably while the starter is engaged, instead of just freewheeling and then catching once the key is returned to run.
Check your wiring and add the jumper from the starter solenoid to the coil if it is missing.

Regards,
Craig


> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 19
> Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 09:16:06 -0400
> From: "Joseph F Byrd, Jr" <byrdjf at embarqmail.com>
> To: <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...
> Message-ID: <000201d677bd$3af8b370$b0ea1a50$@embarqmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="utf-8"
> 
> I wonder why no one makes/sells a gated charge storage device to provide a few seconds of full voltage to the ignition electronics during battery voltage dip during starter motor.
> I would think the audio guys with the super bass drivers would have something.
> A diode and a couple big caps would be old school, sure that has to be something new that would have a higher storage density (fast charge dry battery?)
> joe
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> On Behalf Of Sean Korb
> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 8:34 AM
> To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...
> 
> +1 for Rich's answer.  On start, the voltage will sag at the battery,
> less than a volt for a new battery but a half sulfated one will sag to 9V easy.  That's way too low a voltage to run the electronics and power your coil even if you are getting good starter amperage.
> 
> sean
> 
> On 8/20/20, Rich Hoppe <richbhoppe at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>