Engine won’t start

[Stephen2583]

I have a ‘76 124 spider. I recently replaced the alternator and that’s it. The car ran before but now for some reason won’t start. It cranks fine and has plenty of battery, but won’t turn over. Used the choke, tried giving it some gas, but no dice. Everything is hooked up on the alternator and ground is correct. Belt is also spinning, any ideas?

[geospider]

check spark. Are you getting voltage to coil? this is when I use mutimeter to check what I can.
don't know the wiring on your year, but that's where I would start. Only change was electrical. Well, that's logical, but these aren't always logical.

[aj81spider]

Did you replace it with an identical alternator? I replaced mine with a 95 amp alternator that had the voltage regulator built in. Some minor rewiring was necessary to eliminate the external voltage regulator used with the stock alternator.

+1 on Geospider's recommendation. I'd make sure you have voltage at the coil and then spark.

[Stephen2583]

The alternator was replaced with the same identical alternator. I am not getting spark to the spark plugs (pulled a plug, check it against the engine block for spark), the carburetor bowl also looks super dry so I’m not sure fuel is getting into the bowl. I tried using starter fluid and no dice. It was running less than a month ago and still no luck.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Check your fuses. You may have inadvertently blown one (or two) when you changed the alternator. I'm thinking perhaps the fuse(s) for the electric fuel pump and the ignition system relay.

-Bryan

[Stephen2583]

Update, car is now running!! The ignition went out and I had to replace it. I have an alternate question though. Is there something within the alternator or the car that drops voltage from the alternator to the battery? I relapsed the alternator and the charging system light went out, but I’m still only getting 12.3v at the battery with the car running. Even pressing the gas the voltage doesn’t change going to the battery.

[aj81spider]

There isn't anything that should drop voltage and 12.3 is wrong. Do you have around 14 at the alternator?

You have an issue you need to track down. Your battery won't charge very well like that.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

My first thought was that your alternator isn't working, but the battery still has enough juice left in it to start the car. And it will for a while until eventually the battery goes dead.

However, you said the charging light goes out, which means the alternator is doing something. So, my guess at this point is that the alternator is putting out some voltage, but not the required 14 volts or so as A.J. mentioned.

At this point, the simplest thing is to take it to a battery and alternator shop and have them check the alternator. They can do this with the alternator on the car, and it shouldn't take very long or cost very much.

-Bryan