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GEN light flickering continued for a few days, bought a new alternator just in case.
On my way home, truck died while going down the highway... Tried to restart the truck and it would turn over but not start.
Installed the new alternator, hoping it would do the trick, it did not...
Thought it was the voltage regulator, so I bought and installed a new one, same issue. It turns over, but won't start.
I need help here, the truck has been in a parking lot for three days now. Any ideas?

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1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Todays voltage regulators are not the best quality. The viltage had to be in a certain range for the fuel pump system to work. If it will it fire if you spray some starting fluid, I would suspect the regulator. Some people have had to replace several to get a good one...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

My 77 done the same thing, flickered lights & died then wouldn't start up .. I ended up unplugging the V-Regulator and it allowed my fuel pump power to work & truck started & of course NOT charging but i was able to get her home & sort things out ...
Try Unplugging it,... bet it starts up

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Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned

Well, unplugging the voltage regulator didn't work, still turning over, but not firing up...
Distributor needs adjusting? Any other ideas? Should I buy another voltage regulator?

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1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

See if your points are burnt really bad or maybe even stuck together. A too close point gap & the engine will crank bur not fire. Once it's running again then work on the gen light.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

The distributor cap looks good, I think my mechanic put a new one on this last spring. The rotor looks old, so that is my next move I guess. When I press on the accelerator I smell fuel, so i think the fuel pump is doing its thing...
If it doesn't get running by the end of the week i gotta get it towed home...

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Ok, first check if you're getting fuel at the carb - remove the supply line, put the end in a cup or something and turn the engine over for about one second.

If you're not getting fuel, start diagnosing the fuel pump circuit.

If you're getting fuel, remove a spark plug wire, plug a spare spark plug in the wire and ground the plug. Have someone turn the engine over and watch for a bright blue spark between the contacts of the spare spark plug.

If you don't have a bright blue spark, start diagnosing things like ignition power at the coil, points opening and closing, etc.

Until you do these things, you're just stabbing in the dark randomly and hoping you'll fix it by luck alone. Diagnose the symptoms and treat the fault.

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1980 4x4 in the process of being grafted onto a 1989 Trooper frame.

Mikey D has it right. Once it 'conks out', 'Ya just gotta' go through the numbers.

So it was a fuse for the ignition switch...

Changed out the fuse, fired right up!

Each day I am learning...

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien