83' 380 Sel

Just bought an 83' 380SEL.On the way home (120 miles) It died.WE checked for spark and there was none.We have a Chiltons manuel for it but it does not give much info on the ignition system.It does have an electronic ignition.Is there some kind of self diognostic system?

[wbain5280]

Question number 1: Will the starter turn the engine over?

2: Does the fuel pump run or buzz?

3: Are all the fuses good?

4: How is the battery?

Thank you for the quick responce.
1.Battery is new with a fresh charge.
2.Starter cranks well.
3.Fuses are good...(are there any hiden fuses?)
4.Fuel pump sounds like it's working.I put a small amount of fuel in the intake to see if it would fire but no luck.

[mercmad6.3]

Try putting an old sparkplug on to the end of a lead ( any one will do ) turn the engine on the starter,got spark?,check that distributor is clamped down and hasn't moved,
No spark?,remove dissy cap,turn engine, is dissy rotor turning?.
Not turning ? ,Stripped chain sprocket in front cover.
Turning ? Check connections on ignition module,nothing loose?,all cables present ?
look at the battery,there is a little connector with a large power feed for the car and two small cables,check that it is clean and tight.Phillips head screws,in a bakelite connector.
Still no Spark,change the module,swap it for a good one off a freind,don't buy a new one until it fires.
Check the coil ,again do the swap thing.
ballast resistors look alright? a quick check in behind them will show a brokemn link.
Have good long look at the rotor ,any cracks,burn tracks etc?
change it !!
Check the the iiside of the cap,same story,any burns etc,change it .
Lastly,throw away all those old plug leads and fit good new ones

Found the problem!! No spark.Rotor is not turning.Pulled distributor and it was fine.this weekend we will remove front cover on the engine and check for a stripped chain sprocket.
Thanks for the help!! Will post the results when they are known.
Carl

[MikeTangas]

Before you pull the front cover, pull the left side valve cover. I just noticed this was a 3.8L, which in '83 was a simplex chain, unless it has been converted to a duplex by a PO. Since the rotor isn't turning I get the uneasy feeling you may have thrown the timing chain. If that is the case, and it happened while driving down the road, when you pull the left valve cover you find the chain off the sprocket and possibly the left cam broken.

Sorry for the long delay,have been very busy with other things,and away from home..
We have a broken timing chain guide.Timing chain is very loose.Cams appear to be in good shape.
I want to replace chain and sprockets.What is this Duplex chain, I don't know anything about them.
Also,this car has 178000 miles on it and it smokes when first being started (valve guides and seals) and when you step on it at any speed (blue smoke.must be oil)(rings??).
Up to speed smoke is very lite but noticeable.I hear the bottom end of these engines lasts well over 300000 miles.
Just woundering if this would be a good time to get rebuilt heads and a ring job.?.?.
THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP AND ADVICE!!!
Carl Griffith

[Hatterasguy]

At 178k you car shouldn't need a ring job. Get a compression and leakdown test done to tell you the health of the bottom end. But a new timing chain and valve job should fix everything.

[MikeTangas]

A simplex chain is a single row chain, what the early US destined 3.8 originally came with the later models came equipped with a duplex chain.

A duplex chain is a double row chain, the M117's all had them as did the Euro M116's. The early M116's (3.8) were converted to a duplex chain under warranty, however there are still a number of early models that did not receive this service. I believe the life span of the simplex chain is only something like 30K miles.