[DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good timing etc. Baffled and need Advice

[Mike Becker]

Yep, as a matter of fact, I got my replacement switch from Steve Leibenow when this happened to me.  I now carry a spare switch!

Mike

 

 

From: Mike Drew <mikeldrew at aol.com> 
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 7:58 PM
To: mikebecker679 at gmail.com
Cc: reillyms at live.com; DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good timing etc. Baffled and need Advice

 

Mike,

 

Ah yes, now I see!  Yes, that is EXACTLY what the problem must be--faulty ignition switch that only allows the ignition to work when the switch is in the spring-loaded 'start' position but not the 'run' position.

 

I completely failed to interpret what he wrote correctly.  My bad!

 

Fortunately, the problem is almost always not with the entire switch, but rather with just the electrical portion of the switch, which can easily be swapped out.  I think Steve Liebenow and Larry Finch have electrical halves of the switch available.

 

Thanks for the correction Mike! :>)

 

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Becker <mikebecker679 at gmail.com <mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com> >
To: 'Mike Drew' <MikeLDrew at aol.com <mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com> >
Cc: 'Mike Reilly' <reillyms at live.com <mailto:reillyms at live.com> >; DeTomaso <DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Sent: Sat, May 16, 2020 7:24 pm
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good timing etc. Baffled and need Advice

This is the statement that me think the engine was running while cranking, but would not continue running when you stop cranking:

... It cranked fine, would sound like it wanted
  to fire but would not.  Even when I floored the gas pedal while
  cranking it (like for a flooded engine) it would rev up very high like
  it was running but would not catch to keep running...  

mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Drew <MikeLDrew at aol.com <mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com> > 
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 3:10 PM
To: Michael Becker <mikebecker679 at gmail.com <mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com> >
Cc: Mike Reilly <reillyms at live.com <mailto:reillyms at live.com> >; DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com <mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com> 
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good timing etc. Baffled and need Advice

Mike,

I immediately thought of that too. But in the scenario you describe, the car will initially start and momentarily run until the key is released from the spring-loaded start position. Mike didn’t indicate that there was so much as a pop of combustion. In that case, if it was the switch, it would be both wires that failed at the same time which is unlikely?

Mike

Sent from my iPad

> On May 16, 2020, at 11:33, Michael Becker <mikebecker679 at gmail.com <mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com> > wrote:
> 

-------------- next part --------------
   Yep, as a matter of fact, I got my replacement switch from Steve
   Leibenow when this happened to me.  I now carry a spare switch!

   Mike



   From: Mike Drew <mikeldrew at aol.com>
   Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 7:58 PM
   To: mikebecker679 at gmail.com
   Cc: reillyms at live.com; DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good
   timing etc. Baffled and need Advice


   Mike,


   Ah yes, now I see!  Yes, that is EXACTLY what the problem must
   be--faulty ignition switch that only allows the ignition to work when
   the switch is in the spring-loaded 'start' position but not the 'run'
   position.


   I completely failed to interpret what he wrote correctly.  My bad!


   Fortunately, the problem is almost always not with the entire switch,
   but rather with just the electrical portion of the switch, which can
   easily be swapped out.  I think Steve Liebenow and Larry Finch have
   electrical halves of the switch available.


   Thanks for the correction Mike! :>)


   Mike
   -----Original Message-----
   From: Mike Becker <[1]mikebecker679 at gmail.com>
   To: 'Mike Drew' <[2]MikeLDrew at aol.com>
   Cc: 'Mike Reilly' <[3]reillyms at live.com>; DeTomaso
   <[4]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
   Sent: Sat, May 16, 2020 7:24 pm
   Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good
   timing etc. Baffled and need Advice

   This is the statement that me think the engine was running while
   cranking, but would not continue running when you stop cranking:
   ... It cranked fine, would sound like it wanted
     to fire but would not.  Even when I floored the gas pedal while
     cranking it (like for a flooded engine) it would rev up very high
   like
     it was running but would not catch to keep running...
   mike

   -----Original Message-----
   From: Mike Drew <[5]MikeLDrew at aol.com>
   Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 3:10 PM
   To: Michael Becker <[6]mikebecker679 at gmail.com>
   Cc: Mike Reilly <[7]reillyms at live.com>;
   [8]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Pantera Won't Start but has fuel, spark, good
   timing etc. Baffled and need Advice
   Mike,
   I immediately thought of that too. But in the scenario you describe,
   the car will initially start and momentarily run until the key is
   released from the spring-loaded start position. Mike didn't indicate
   that there was so much as a pop of combustion. In that case, if it was
   the switch, it would be both wires that failed at the same time which
   is unlikely?
   Mike
   Sent from my iPad
   > On May 16, 2020, at 11:33, Michael Becker
   <[9]mikebecker679 at gmail.com> wrote:
   >

References

   1. mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com
   2. mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com
   3. mailto:reillyms at live.com
   4. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   5. mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com
   6. mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com
   7. mailto:reillyms at live.com
   8. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   9. mailto:mikebecker679 at gmail.com