 Engine catches then dies. |
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| Geezer914 |
 Jan 14 2026, 11:55 AM
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#1
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Geezer914  Group: Members Posts: 2,191 Joined: 18-March 09 From: Salem, NJ Member No.: 10,179 Region Association: North East States 
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75 914 2056, Ljet EFI. Pulled the engine to fix an oil leak. Everything back together, engine starts and dies. Checked fuel pressure, gauge reads 30 lbs. Ignition is a Mallory Unilite. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
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| Jack Standz |
Jan 14 2026, 12:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 666 Joined: 15-November 19 From: Happy Place (& surrounding area) Member No.: 23,644 Region Association: None
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Have loved Mallory Unilite distributors for many years. Currently running one on our 2056. Have used them on other vehicles too.
Guesses: Did you disturb the fuel pressure relay? Unilites are easily broken by putting the coil wiring on backwards, even for a short time. This will destroy the module inside the distributor. However, this usually means you get no spark at all, not an intermittent spark. Maybe intermittent spark as the module died? Easy fix if the module is dead. Hard part is finding a replacement these days. Suggest getting one now for a spare before they all are gone. |
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| sixnotfour |
Jan 14 2026, 12:52 PM
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#3
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 11,095 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains 
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reach in open the air flapper door by hand..see if it stays running
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| fiacra |
Jan 14 2026, 05:08 PM
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#4
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Person.Woman.Man.Camera.TV. = MCI Group: Members Posts: 673 Joined: 1-March 19 From: East Bay Region - California Member No.: 22,920 Region Association: Northern California
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QUOTE(sixnotfour @ Jan 14 2026, 10:52 AM)  reach in open the air flapper door by hand..see if it stays running Probably not covering ground you haven't thought of, but I would go back and re-touch everything you d/c when you pulled the engine, or anything that might have gotten knocked loose. Loose or intermittent connection is where I would be focusing my attention. I agree with checking function of the dual relay (manually opening the flapper door) and then, if needed, directly checking the relay. It would be an odd coincidence to have it go out right at the time you pull the engine. These are getting hard to come by again, but JBugs and CIP1 currently show them as being in stock. Unfortunately they cost nearly twice as much as they used to because of tariffs. |
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| rick 918-S |
Jan 15 2026, 07:10 AM
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#5
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 21,172 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region
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Did you accidently switch the fuel lines? I did that once. The engine would fire like it was going to start then die.
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| Geezer914 |
Jan 15 2026, 07:14 AM
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#6
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Geezer914 Group: Members Posts: 2,191 Joined: 18-March 09 From: Salem, NJ Member No.: 10,179 Region Association: North East States
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Thanks for all the replies. It's only 28° in the garage so I will check things out after next week when the temp gets a little higher!
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| Geezer914 |
Jan 17 2026, 09:36 AM
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#7
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Geezer914 Group: Members Posts: 2,191 Joined: 18-March 09 From: Salem, NJ Member No.: 10,179 Region Association: North East States
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Checked all the connections and found the ground wire to the distributor was disconnected. Hooked it back up and it runs fine. Thankful it was something simple! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)
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| Osnabruck914 |
Jan 17 2026, 12:38 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 198 Joined: 19-December 22 From: United States Member No.: 27,038 Region Association: South East States |
Another example of Achim's Razor. Glad you found it. You will sleep better now.
Osnabruck914 |
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| Jack Standz |
Jan 17 2026, 12:41 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 666 Joined: 15-November 19 From: Happy Place (& surrounding area) Member No.: 23,644 Region Association: None
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Awesome that you fixed it!
Still recommend getting an extra (correct version) Mallory Unilite module for a spare (if you can still find one). |
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| StarBear |
Jan 17 2026, 02:25 PM
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#10
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,228 Joined: 2-September 09 From: NJ Member No.: 10,753 Region Association: North East States
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I love happy (and inexpensive) endings!
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| Geezer914 |
Jan 17 2026, 02:42 PM
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#11
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Geezer914 Group: Members Posts: 2,191 Joined: 18-March 09 From: Salem, NJ Member No.: 10,179 Region Association: North East States
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QUOTE(Jack Standz @ Jan 17 2026, 01:41 PM) Awesome that you fixed it! Still recommend getting an extra (correct version) Mallory Unilite module for a spare (if you can still find one). I have spares! |
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