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| | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 24 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 24 | Hi all, Can you help me troubleshoot my electrical problem? Of course it ran fine when I parked it, now I get nothing, no spark at the points when I put a good battery in her the lights will come on but once I turn the key they go out and the starter doesn't get juice, the lights won't come on again unless I take the leads off the battery then put them back on. My husband thinks the problem may have started with a battery charger that went bad. It's a 49 that's been converted to 12v and has a key start, could it be the regulator? I've worked with the ignition wiring before but it's been a couple of years ago, so any advice is welcome.
Thanks in advance
Michelle | | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 829 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 829 | It sounds like a poor/corroded connection at the battery/starter. I would check both of the battery terminals and grounding points from the battery to frame and frame to engine. Sometimes the problem can be found if one person tries to crank the engine while the other one wiggles the wires. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Michelle,
When you turn your key to START, you are powering the solenoid to pull in and connect battery voltage to the starter to spin it. The way you have described the problem, my first thought would surely be a bad battery. This would be true only if the cables were in great shape, clean and connected well.
There is a oxide or crust that forms on the positive post and cable where it clamps onto the post. This is a tough material and must be 'cut' off with a knife. After this is done, the little post cleaner do-dad can shine the lead and finish the job.
Unless you know the history of your 'good battery', it would be my very first suspect. If you have a remote starter switch you can attach it to the little terminal on the solenoid and the big lug that has the BATT cable on it. This will take any other wiring out of the loop and prove the battery.
If you don't have the remote starter switch you can use a old screwdriver to jump from the little 'S' terminal on the solenoid to the big BATT lug. Make sure your rig is in neutral.
I sure would think bad battery first. Good luck!
Stuart | | |
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