The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Losing electrical power

I have a '51 3600. It is still pretty much original. It had been running well. I tried to start it, it cranked for 5 seconds then everything stopped. Now I turn on the key switch and I have power. The dome light, headlights, and the dashboard gauges all work. Then when I step on the starter I lose all electrical power. I turn the key off and let it set for a while then I can do the whole thing over again. My multimeter and my battery recharger both say my battery has about 6.3 Volts. Can anyone tell me were to start?

Just guessing, starter brushes. first though make sure you have good clean connections on all wires related to the starter and ground. Something is getting hot and losing connection and reconnects when cool.

ON the 6v. you have to have everthing clean bright and tight. I agree that something has a corroded or shorted connection. Check all connections from the battery to the starter.

Tim's right, not just Tight but clean and tight! It is possible that the battery its self has an internal short have someone test the voltage when you put the load on it, be sure they test the voltage right on the battery posts not just on the cable clamps.

Have someone crank then check for heating of battery clamps on posts - if warm or hot clean em. You can also put a Voltmeter from clamp to its post and check voltage drop when cranking.

How old is battery? One clue here is after short time battery recovers. Check water level of course. If have a good hot spare battery put that in and see if all improves - if so get new battery.


Dan Bentler

Thanks for the help. It ended up being the positive battery cable. The terminal is the kind that clamps onto the cable. The terminal to cable was loose. I tightened it, problem solved.