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| | | | Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 | Any thoughts about this weird electrical issue please...?
I let my friend drive my 55.1 235 5sp 12v pickup. He stalled it out. After that, it won't start.
When I turn the key, the electric fuel pump starts buzzing. Then I hit the foot starter, the fuel pump quits and dead silence. No starter noise.
It seems like pressing the starter pedal kills all power.
Any ideas? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,837 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,837 | Turn off the electric fuel pump and see what happens when you push the starter button.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | That there is your standard dead battery/bad cell/corroded battery posts/corroded cables/corroded cable clamps/loose clamps/corroded connection at starter/failing ground strap or cable/failing foot starter switch, possible bad starter ...........or maybe something else.  1. Check battery for 12.6V at rest. report number 2. Check battery voltage during foot pedal press, see if voltage drops way down or no change. report number. 3. Check all those connections 4. 5 speed? Electric fuel pump? 5. If numbers not good at battery check, take battery to good FLAPS for load test. 6. Report above to continue tests. Use volt meter/multimeter set to DC volts. Ignition switch not involved Charging system not involved The bad battery or corroded termination breaks down when starter draws 450 Amp +. You are noticing the pump because it's the only thing that makes noise when ignition switch is on. If you had headlights on, they would go off also.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,078 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,078 | I'm with Bartamos.
To add to his list:
2a. Check voltage at the battery CLAMP (not on the post) during foot pedal press. See if voltage drops way down or no change. report number.
Or just right off the bat remove the battery cable clamps and clean the posts and clamps and reinstall and see what happens.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | ............or jumper cable it with another 12V vehicle for a second or two. just to get some hints on what it wants.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 | Thanks guys. Battery read 3.4v, so I'm charging and will report back later. All your advice seems on target! Thanks. Don | | | | | Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 | Follow up on my "starter"...
Yes, as Bartamos said, it was the classic low battery symptom.
No, the fuel pump didn't buzz nor did lights work when I pressed the starter button.
My first meter check showed 12.3v, then 12.86v after a partial charge. The starter turned at 12.86v.
Thank you Stovebolters. Another mystery solved.
Gratitude,
Don | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | I fear battery may go dead again. It's either bad cell
or charging system not charging, So when motor running, check voltage at battery for about 14V at 1000-1500 RPM
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2021 Posts: 105 | I will check voltage with motor running as you suggest.
Please forgive my typo. My lowest battery voltage earlier today was 12.34v. (Not 3.4v). | | | | | Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,242 Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) | | Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,242 | If the voltage was low when he was driving (when it stalled out), that typically indicates a problem with the charging system that will leave you stranded again.
Recommend checking that sooner than later. | | |
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