Ok, so I've searched the archives on how to start an engine with no key, but I'm wondering if there's something I'm not doing right. Here's the situation:

The engine is installed in a car with all its underhood wiring in place and a charged battery installed. I hooked up a remote starter switch by connecting one end to the positive battery cable and the other to the S terminal on the solenoid. Then I ran a 14g wire from the positive battery cable to the positive terminal on the coil. The engine will turn over when I engage the remote starter switch, but the car will not fire. It looks like I'm not getting any spark at the coil (pulled the wire off the coil tower to look for a spark when its cranking). I even switched out the coil with a known working unit off of another running engine and got the same result.

One thing I'm wondering is if I need to disconnect any of the other wiring at the starter, or disconnect the alternator, in order to start the engine this way.

Any help is much appreciated!

Yr of car? Ill assume its a chevelle


The engine is installed in a car with all its underhood wiring in place and a charged battery installed. I hooked up a remote starter switch by connecting one end to the positive battery cable and the other to the S terminal on the solenoid. Then I ran a 14g wire from the positive battery cable to the positive terminal on the coil.
That is the correct way (with older cars). I always like to have a inline fuse near the battery when doing these type of tests.

The engine will turn over when I engage the remote starter switch, but the car will not fire. It looks like I'm not getting any spark at the coil (pulled the wire off the coil tower to look for a spark when its cranking). I even switched out the coil with a known working unit off of another running engine and got the same result.
What type of ignition system? You may have a bad set of points or a module.

One thing I'm wondering is if I need to disconnect any of the other wiring at the starter, or disconnect the alternator, in order to start the engine this way.

No. If it won't start with your test wiring, its not going to either with the factory wiring in place. Will need to fix/ replace ignition components.

What dist. are you using? If you have a known good coil and still no spark it sounds like you have a distrubutor problem. Also, be sure your coil wire is good.

Thanks so far guys. Sorry I didn't mention, it is a 1971 Chevelle with stock distributor and points ignition.

Take off the cap & be sure the points are opening. You can use a matchbook cover as a gap gauge if you don't have one.
Be sure the wire from the coil to the points isn't broken or shorted.
Replace the condensor, they're known for off-beat ignition problems.
Hope that helped,
BIllL

Ok, thanks Bill. For some reason I was thinking that the coil would spark independent of whether there was an issue with the dist. I will check on what has been suggested.

So it sounds like there is no issue with how I'm bypassing the ignition switch with the temporary wiring.

You need to be careful when jumping the ignition system. A points type system is designed to have full battery viltage when cranking, but 6 to 8 volts through a resistor or resistance wire when running.
Do not leave the 12 volt jumper wire connected when the engine is off. If the points happen to be in the closed position they won't last long. You could also overheat the coil and pop the top off of it. Ask me how I know. Check out my signature.
Squido