The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Think I Just fried the starter solenoid?

1964 GMC Fleetside

If I don't take the opportunity to drive drive it, I like to at least go out and start it up, and let it warm up now and then. Started up fine, considering 20 degree weather. Got it warmed up and stayed running close to thirty minutes. Had the heater blower on high. Then killed it and looked at the new box of defroster hose stock, that I've been needing to cut and install for the driver side. Not thinking with a level head, I immediately turned the key back on, with the heater motor on high and turned the ignition to start. Instantly lost all power to everything! No engine ignition, lights, Gen light on dash, no wipers. According to the manual schematic, battery power to the starter solenoid and then to the ignition, fuse panel, and light switch. Due to medical reasons, I cannot get my hands any dirtier than possible at the moment, or else I would be sticking a tester everywhere. Bored and sitting in the house staring at a computer screen. Just kind of wanted to get some other opinions for when I can get my hands on some of the girl's parts.

Those are classic symptoms of dirty connections at the battery cables. Have someone pull the cable clamps off the posts and thoroughly clean both the inside of the cable clamps and the battery posts with a wire brush. Reattach the cables tightly, and cover the outside of the cable clamps with Vaseline, wheel bearing grease, or one of the spray-on compounds intended for corrosion protection. If the symptoms don't go away with that treatment, try a different battery. I've seen sudden, total failure of a battery due to an internal connector between cells burning out. Good luck!
Jerry

I have seen the problem with the clamps and posts on a car that my wife had a while back. Visually inspected those, but not to say that is not the problem. Have not experienced that particular battery problem yet. Most of my professional experience is with natural gas compressor units, that are started and powered by a 12V system. I have seen a 12V system do a lot of strange things in those years. Will definitely check both suggestions when I am able. The way it lost all system voltage, I just instantly figured that I had tried to pull too many amps through the system, and fried a component after the battery. Thank you very much!! I hate not being able to get my hands dirty, been doing it my life!

Couldn't wait, had my 8 year old son be the hands of the operation. Besides, I know he likes giving me a hand, I should probably do that more often! Got the clamps off and they did not look at all that bad! Had him hit them with the post brush and we put them back on. Had instant, total power back to everything! I've seen connections at battery posts that looked like they were about to chemically decompose, and still functioned. First time for everything! Thank you Jerry!, it always seems that we disregard the easiest, most obvious thing that is causing the problem. But, like I said, looking at them, I didn't question the clamps! Thank you, Joe

Good show! He's getting a late start at age 8- - - -I was hanging around the shop watching Dad make us a living at least as early as age 5- - - -probably before that, but my memory fails me! He's 89 now, and I still ask his opinion on these old rigs pretty regularly.
Jerry