My Scout Wont Start

S

SDScout

New member
Hello everyone I am new here and not to car savy but I chose a 1975 International as my first project. It is a 4x4 with a 6 inch lift and pretty much in good shape and was a daily driver. But recently I drove it to work and it would not start back up. I turn on the ignition and all hat happens is the battery turns and the gauges work but the truck wont turn over. I replaced the infamous gold box but nothing changed. The battery is brand new and fully charged. Any suggestions? :incazzato:
 
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Yup. All is connected. The starter is brand new. I am very puzzled at this point and have no idea what else to do. If I cannot get it up and running the wife insists I sell it.
 
Does it even try to crank over when you try to start it?

Are you getting power to the new gold box and then power to the distributor?
 
So the battery reads 100% charged. And the solenoid is clicking. Doesnt that mean my battery is dead or I need a new alternator?
 
Kinda why I asked about the starter in the first place. If you are not sure of the history of maintenance of it, then it probably wouldn't hurt to replace it. If you were up here in norcal I would loan ya one of my spare starters to check.

Is this the first time you had this problem of no start?

It is also common to have the no start situation once it's warmed up and hot. Then once it cools off after awhile it will start back up.
 
Usually if I it is warm I will let it sit for about 5 minutes and it will start right up again but this is the first time I have had this problem where it is just dead. I have the receipt for the start which was purchased last August. I am at a road block now and it has been stuck on base for a week.
 
If the battery checks good but the starter won't crank the engine when the key is turned to 'start', could the switch be failing? Check the '+' battery cable and clean the 'inside surface of the clamp' that connects to the battery. The surface May have 'corrosion' preventing a good connection. Could have the '+' battery cable replaced with at least a 4 ga wire. Clean the '-' battery cable as above and check the connection from the battery to the motor and to the body/frame. The GM design starter used by IH has some issues with the solenoid. The material holding the connections has been known to crack and fail. Be sure there is a 'heat shield' attached to the passenger side exhaust manifold above the starter solenoid. Heat will kill the solenoid.
Could also clean the bulkhead connectors.
 
Well looking over the batter connections again there was some corrosion and the cable ends that touch the connection are rusted and barely touching the battery. I am going to tow it to a friends shop and have him look it over in the morning.
 
That would be my next two diagnostics - the ignition switch and battery cables. The switch is mounted ontop of the steering column under the dash. I have seen those get loose and slide with the actuating rod causing the no start issue. Or the switch is bad. But I would go through all the battery cables first.
 
Welcome sd. These types of issues are very common with all vehicles of this vintage and are generally simple to remedy by taking a patient and methodical approach. One suggestion I have for you right off the bat since you are new, is to provide as much pertinent information about your ride as possible when you start up a new thread. One handy trick is to go into the user control panel in the upper left of your screen and create a custom signature that includes pertinent vehicle data such as model, year, trans, engine etc etc. That way you don't have to type all that stuff over and over every time you post.

The guys have given you some good ideas. Does your Scout have an auto trans by chance?
 
Ahhh good question about type of trans. If it's an auto(torqueflight 727) some times the no start issue can be traced to a faulty nuetral/park safety switch.
 
That's what I was alluding to although this is most likely an electrical issue as previously discussed, so we'll keep that nss angle on the back burner for now, unless op says he has a manual trans and then we can totally dispense with the notion.:icon_rotate:
 
Re: My Scout cranks but wont start

Hello,im new here to this site and I was having a little troubles with my 1975 International Scout... I haven't had it to long now but I had it running I just replaced the point inside the distributor and it ran.but just the other day I went out to start it and it would crank but it would not start,I checked to see if it had spark and it did...but it is acting like it doesent have enough spark.so I had my friend come over and help out while he was cranking it I was putting a little bit of gas in the carburetor and it dident even try to start...I dont know what to do...since I have had it I replaced the carburetor,the coil,the point,the fuel pump the and a battery...pleas help
 
First let's verify your thought that the spark is weak.
You'll need an extra spark plug or a screw driver and a helper.

Remove a plug wire from an installed plug and plug the extra plug into it. Set the hex of the plug on ground (a metal part of the engine). Have your helper crank the over and watch the plug spark as you slowly lift it away from ground. You should be able to see the spark jump between the hex of the plug and ground with at least 1/8 of an inch space and be blue - white in color. A healthy ignition system will jump 1/4 inch +.

If you don't see the quality of spark that I describe, recheck your points and gap. Should be around .019" when on the tip of the point cam.

Key on run position, engine off and, the points closed you should measure between 7 and 9 volts on the + coil terminal and ground. Don't leave the ignition on for any longer that it takes to measure the voltage as it can over heat the coil.

Report back after these tasks are done.
 
Ok...we have done what you have said for me to do...ther is spark but it is not blue it is like yellow color from what I understand I will not spark the fuel if it is not a blue spark...
 
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