55 chevy starting problems

[nc55]

Help please. every time i start my 55 chevy, it will start fine, but as soon as i release the switch to go back to on, it will cut off. as long as i keep i switch between the start and run, the car runs fine, but when i release it and it goes back to the on position it will cut off. any ideas on this? thanks

[auggie56]

Get your test light out and check to see if you have voltage, across the ballast resister, with key in the on position. The ballast resister is that white porcelain part, with two wires, just above the distributor.

[nc55]

I forgot to mention that it has electronic ignition, thanks

[auggie56]

I forgot to mention that it has electronic ignition, thanks

May help to know the manufacturer of your ignition.

[Jim '57]

Check to see if you have your hot wire on the assc terminal.
Jim

[dseale4888]

In my 55 there is a brown wire and a green wire from the switch that need to be tied together with the electronic(HEI) ignition.
Dave

[nc55]

the car has been starting fine, just started this a few days ago. Mallory ignition.

[auggie56]

I'm not familiar with Malory ignition, but it dose have an external coil does it not ? Is there twelve volts to one side of the coil, with the key on ? If not, I'd be checking your ignition switch, and related wiring before you get wrapped up, in an electronic issue.

[chevender]

If it's a Mallory unilight it should still be using the ballast resistor. If the resistor is bad it will do exactly what your decribing. Also if you loose the connection from the run side of the ignition switch you will have the same problem.
Rick

[gss1955]

I have to agree with Auggie56 & Chevender, if this started suddenly then you should be looking at the ballast resistor or the wiring. When your igintion is in the "on" position you should be feeding a steady voltage to the distributor and that seems not to be happening. I not familiar with Mallory so I'd need more info on how it suppose to be wired and how you have it wired to be more specific.
.
Where about's are you in NC? I live over by Pittsboro.

[acardon]

Do you have a ballest resistor on the firewall? To test the resistor, check the voltage on both terminals with the key on. One terminal should have 12 volts and the other terminal should have from 8 to 12 volts. If you have voltage on one side and not the other, the resistor is bad. If you have voltage on both sides of the resistor, the problem is in the ignition switch or a bad connection on the brown wire at the switch.

[nc55]

thanks guys for your response, just as quick as the problem started, it ended. the car starts fine now, think maybe the switch is going bad?

[gss1955]

In my experince problems that suddenly "go away" don't stay away. I'd get out the voltmeter test your voltages, connections, grounds. You're problem didn't fix itself it just got more complicated. I truely don't mean to rain on your parade.