engine not starting

[redstang80]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I am restoring a 1980 mustang 4 cylinder. Lately, I've been having some wiring trouble (the gauges will not function) and have been taking my engine harness out to examine the wires, to be sure the wires are in good condition and to ensure they are hooked up right. The first few times I've put them back, I would have trouble starting the engine (when turning the key I would hear one click in the engine bay and nothing else would happen), usually after re-checking everything was tight, I could get it to start. This last time I pulled the engine harness, the engine will click once and will not start. I've tried re-securing all wires, grounds, and re-tightened the wire that goes from the starter to the solenoid. I have not a clue as to where the trouble could be, does anyone have any ideas what could be the problem?

Another thing to add is sometimes when the car is not run for a few days or so, when I turn the key, it will click once and nothing else--I would just fiddle with the wires as I said above and the engine would start right up.

Thanks for you input,

 

[babybudistmonk]

im guessing you have a bad connection in your harness somewhere. something has to be loose in there if you able to move the wires around and get a connection. Might have to go through the entire harness to find the bad link

 

[redstang80]

Hi babybudistmonk,

Thank you for responding. As of recently, I found that a wire was hooked up wrong. I re-checked all wiring and have it in the correct spots now according to a shop manual.

Unfortunately another problem has come up. The other day I was backing the car up and the engine almost gave out a few times, now the car will not start, it will only crank.

I am thinking that it could be the spark plugs could be dirty as I do not have the carburator set accurate enough yet. Could it be something else?

Thanks for your replies and looking.