Battery and charging system
Low battery
Broken drive belt (belts) generator, or its tension has weakened. Check belt condition (see accompanying illustration). Adjust tension or replace belt (belts).
Faulty generator voltage regulator. Replace the defective block.
Battery is defective. Install a new, properly charged battery of the correct type.
Generator defective. Perform any necessary repairs or replace the alternator.
Faulty charge circuit wiring. Check, make necessary repairs, or replace the harness.
The electrical connectors of the charge circuit are faulty. Check and make necessary repairs or replace defective components.
Fusible link burned out. Eliminate the cause of the failure of the insert, replace the insert.
Note. Check battery level (specific gravity of the electrolyte) batteries (see chapter Engine Electrical Systems). If the battery charge is too low, try to find the cause by working in the above order.
Battery level is too high
Faulty generator voltage regulator. Replace the defective block.
Generator defective. Perform any necessary repairs or replace the alternator.
Faulty wiring or electrical connectors of the charge circuit. Check and make necessary repairs or replace defective components.
Note. A sign of an overcharged battery is the constant boiling off of the electrolyte, usually accompanied by its discoloration.
The charge indicator lamp stays on after starting the engine, or the voltmeter registers too low a voltage
Broken drive belt (belts) generator, or its tension has weakened. Check the condition of the belt. Adjust the tension or replace the belt (belts).
Faulty generator voltage regulator. Replace the defective block.
Generator defective. Perform any necessary repairs or replace the alternator.
There is a short to ground in the control lamp power wiring. Check and make any necessary corrections.
Voltmeter defective. Make any necessary repairs or replace the defective instrument.
Charge indicator lamp/voltmeter does not function
The lamp has burned out. Check, replace.
There is a break in the wiring, or the lamp socket is faulty. Check and make any necessary repairs.
The alternator diode has failed. Make any necessary repairs.
Voltmeter defective. Make any necessary repairs or replace the defective instrument.
There are noises coming from the drive belt (to her) or generator
Worn drive belt (belts), or the flatness of the pulleys is broken. Replace belt (belts), or align the pulleys.
The alternator mounting bolts are loose, or the bearings of the latter are worn out. Tighten fasteners or replace bearings.
Alternator drive pulley loose. Tighten the pulley nut to the required torque.
Faulty alternator diodes. Make any necessary repairs.
Note. To localize the source of noise, loosen the generator and remove the belt (belts). If the noise does not appear when starting the engine for a short time, check the condition of the belt (to her) and rotate the generator by hand to check its bearings (see accompanying illustration).
Battery and starting system
The starter does not develop enough power to crank the engine
Low battery. Check that the charging system is working properly and make any necessary repairs.
Battery not "keeps" charge. Check the condition of the battery, replace it if necessary.
The terminals or lugs of the battery wires are oxidized, or the fastening of the latter has loosened. Strip, tighten the terminal clamps.
Starter defective. Check and perform necessary repairs.
The switch of the traction relay of a starter is faulty or quality of contacts is broken. Check, if necessary, replace the traction relay.
Note. Check the battery level and the condition and security of all terminal connections. If necessary, check the operation of the starter and carry out the necessary repairs (see chapter Engine Electrical Systems).
Ignition system
Engine won't start
There is a defect in the primary ignition circuit. Check circuit, make necessary repairs.
Faulty primary or secondary winding of the ignition coil. Replace coil.
On models 4.2 l, burning or contamination of the breaker contacts may occur. Clean or replace contacts, adjust breaker.
On 3.0L models, the air gap setting of the ignition sensor rotor is possible. Make any necessary adjustments.
On 3.0L models, the signal rotor, stator or control unit may fail. Replace defective components.
The distributor cap is cracked, or there are carbon tracks on its inner side (see accompanying illustration). Replace.
Cracked distributor slider. Replace.
There is a defect in the BB wires. Check (see accompanying illustration), replace.
Faulty spark plugs, or incorrect electrode gap setting. Replace or clean the spark plugs and set the electrode gaps.
On 4.2L models, the ballast resistor may fail. Replace the defective component.
Note. Carry out checks of system of ignition from described in the Section devoted to diagnostics of failures at start of the engine in road conditions. If a failure of the ignition system is detected, check the electrical part of the system (see chapter Engine Electrical Systems).
The engine rotates, but does not develop the required power
The setting of the ignition timing is violated. Check, correct.
Jammed or excessively worn centrifugal ignition timing corrector mechanism. Overhaul the distributor.
The ignition timing vacuum corrector does not function. Check up a condition of hoses and serviceability of the block.
The vacuum corrector operates with reduced efficiency. Drive rod disconnected or broken.
Dirty or defective spark plugs, or incorrect electrode gap setting. Replace the candles, or clean them and set the electrode gap.
On 4.2 l models, the breaker contacts may be dirty, or their installation has been violated. Clean and adjust the contacts or replace them.
Condensation has accumulated in the distributor cap. Check, dry the cover and check it for cracks and carbon tracks.
Faulty ignition coil. Check, replace.
Faulty BB wires. Check and replace defective ones.
On 3.0L models, the air gap setting of the ignition sensor rotor is possible. Make any necessary adjustments.
On 3.0L models, the signal rotor, stator or control unit may fail. Replace defective components.
Note. To check the correct operation of the centrifugal ignition timing corrector, remove the distributor cap and turn the slider in the direction of normal rotation. After releasing the slider should spontaneously return to its original position (see accompanying illustration).
There are engine misfires
Dirty or defective spark plugs, or incorrect electrode gap setting. Replace the candles, or clean them and set the electrode gap.
Condensation has accumulated in the distributor cap. Check, dry the cover and check it for cracks and carbon tracks.
Cracked porcelain insulator of one or more spark plugs.
Faulty ignition coil. Check, replace.
Faulty BB wires. Check and replace defective ones.
Faulty slider or speed limiter cover.