New distributor, engine dies abruptly shortly after starting

[Brohate]

My 70 GT wouldn't start. Replaced distributor/rotor/ plugs, etc., and she fired right up!!!! Yeah! The new distributor cap seems loose and the engine dies abruptly shortly after starting. Will restart, but then dies again. Any suggestions, clues, solutions?. Clearly seems to be isolated to the distributor.

[OpelJim]

Originally Posted by Brohate My 70 GT wouldn't start. Replaced distributor/rotor/ plugs, etc., and she fired right up!!!! Yeah! The new distributor cap seems loose and the engine dies abruptly shortly after starting. Will restart, but then dies again. Any suggestions, clues, solutions?. Clearly seems to be isolated to the distributor.

Check the ground to the condensor (it must be against the distributor casing and screwed all the way in) if it is not grounded it will cause the engine to die

Also get the right parts i.e. loose distributor cap means it is not the right one.

Buying parts from a reputable Opel parts supplier company is always the best way to insure you are getting genuine Opel parts that are the right ones

[kwilford]

Is there any chance you moved the wiring on the coil when you hooked up the new distributor, specifically to the + terminal? There are two wires that connect there: the clear resistor wire from the fuse box (actually comes from the ignition switch "on" position) and a black wire from the solenoid on the starter. The black wire provides a full 12 volts (actually about 13.3 V) to the coil when the engine is being cranked, but cuts out when the ignition switch is released to "run", where-after the resistor wire supplies about 9 Volts. If you have inadvertently disconnected the "run" wire, the engine will happily fire away when it is being cranked, and then immediately die when the key is released.