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Author
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Topic: ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.....HELP!!!!!!!!!!
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Boss Hoss
Gearhead Posts: 203
From: Georgia
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-18-2001 08:05 PM
   
OK, here is the SHORT version of the story: My 1965 Mustang is only good for about 2 or 3 starts a day...THAT'S IT. And on each start, the engine turns over slower and slower. After the third start, the starter just grinds to a halt and then you only hear a clicking sound when you turn the key. If you leave the car alone overnight and crank it in the morning, it starts great and the cycle continues until after the third start, when it grinds to a halt again. Something seems to be grounding out SOMEwhere, but I don't know where! HERE ARE THE FACTS:
1) Starter is NEW and GOOD--I've checked it TWICE.
2) Battery is GOOD--I've checked it, and it holds a FULL 12 volts.
3) Solenoid is NEW and is about the third or fourth one I've tried.
4) Voltage regulator is NEW.
5) Alternator is BRAND NEW and GOOD--I've also checked it.
6) Ignition switch is NEW FORD piece--not reproduction.
7) Engine wiring harness is BRAND NEW (It's the one that connects to: the solenoid's two middle contacts, the temperature sending unit, the ignition coil, and the oil sending unit.)
8) Alternator wiring harness is BRAND NEW.
9) Exhaust manifold gaskets and Y-pipe gaskets are NEW and TIGHT, so there is NO chance that hot exhaust is hitting the starter and causing it to expand.
10) Neutral safety switch could possibly be bad, because the IDIOT former owner wired a push-button to the solenoid's left middle contact to bypass the neutral safety switch instead of doing the SMART thing and just REPLACING the neutral safety switch. So...even IF the neutral safety switch is bad, you can still turn the key to "ON", push the button and make the car start.I GIVE UP...there has GOT to be a ground-out somewhere, but I CAN'T FIND IT! And how come the car can start SOME of the time, and then grind to a halt the rest of the time???? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!  *andy* ([email protected]) ------------------
*Boss Hoss*
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kcode
Gearhead Posts: 2170
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-18-2001 10:40 PM
andy,
this could be irrelevant but, in most cases the battery ground and the alternator ground both are on the same bolt to the block behind the alternator. Make sure there is no engine paint on the block where the terminals or lugs touch the block.Mike
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 4307
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-18-2001 10:42 PM
Andy,Try a new battery. Or at least have yours tested at an auto parts store. If it's ok, then drive the car there and have them test the charging system.  SteveW
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66351stang
Gearhead Posts: 629
From: sayville,newyork
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-18-2001 11:36 PM
i know you said you checked the battery, but it sounds like your battery just has a surface charge to it, after 2-3 starts the battery is just to weak.. try testing the battery after the third start and see what the voltage is........------------------
ponycar66,have you flown in a ford latley???????
66-COUPE W/351SVO
glad i had a v-8 !!!!!!
84.5 gt350-61 falcon 302
have a great day!!!!!!!!
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MrXerox
Gearhead Posts: 230
From: Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 08-19-2001 03:11 AM
I got bets on a bad battery as well....
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Boss Hoss
Gearhead Posts: 203
From: Georgia
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-19-2001 09:06 AM
Thanks for the quick replies...BUT...GUESS WHAT? After the third start, the battery STILL has 12 FULL VOLTS in it! Like I said, I had the battery tested TWICE, and it tested good both times! And when I get the car running, the car seems to charge the battery OK, too. Any more information would be MOST appreciated!------------------
***Boss Hoss*** *andy* ([email protected])
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denny
Journeyman Posts: 42
From: Northfield NH USA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-19-2001 10:33 AM
Is the timing too far advanced and the engine is hot and wont turn over?
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 24286
From: Saco, Maine Toys: '70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-19-2001 10:41 AM
Is your starter heat soaking? If you let it sit without charging the battery, will it start once it cools off?Do you have header tubes that pass close to the starter? ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L DOHC
Ford. The closer you look, the better WE look!
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Boss Hoss
Gearhead Posts: 203
From: Georgia
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-19-2001 12:11 PM
denny: I don't think the timing is off, because the car runs fine (except for the vacuum leak, which I think I have fixed).Steve: If by "heat soaking" you mean the starter getting hot...well, if the starter is getting hot, it is NOT because of the exhaust (I have the standard Y-pipe that is about 10 inches above the starter). The other reason I know it is not because of the exhaust is because I am still trying to get the car running after putting the engine back together, and all I'm doing at the moment is turning the engine over and over...the carb and fuel lines are all still very dry. But I am going to try starting the car again today, and I will feel the starter to see if it is getting hot. To answer your other question, YES, I can turn the engine over very easily after letting it sit for a while (and I DON'T charge the battery during this time)...but I can only do this 2 or 3 times, and then things grind to a halt again. One thing I have noticed is that my battery's negative terminal gets a bit warm when I try to start the car several times in a row. ------------------
***Boss Hoss*** *andy* ([email protected]) [This message has been edited by Boss Hoss (edited 08-19-2001).]
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franklin
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: VA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 08-19-2001 01:12 PM
Measure the battery voltage when the car is running. It should be above 12 volts. This is just to make double sure the charging system IS working.
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Dan warren
Gearhead Posts: 71
From: bothell Washington
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 08-24-2001 11:17 AM
Andy have replaced your battery cables yet?They can get corroded inside where you cant see,then they cant carry the amount of current needed.As your motor warms up it usually take more current draw to turn it over.Have an electricl shop check the amount of amps yours starter draws when cold and hot.Alsoe your battery may not produce the amps needed even if it reads 12 volts.You need a heavy duty amp meter to check it . your normal multimeter will be toast. Hope this helps. Dan------------------
68 Shelby Gt 500 Conv.68 GT Fb 302 .84 Gt 350 5.0 Conv.
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lyle29464
Gearhead Posts: 517
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C. C. S. A.
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-24-2001 02:53 PM
I had a problem sort of like that one time. some times it would start but later on in the day it would not.The starter would turn over slower and slower till you just got the click click. I tried everything. One day I was mad and just held the key in the start position and then it started clicking again then faster then started turning over slow at first then fast enought to start it. I was miles from help. I found out it was called a floating plate. The battery was new. I replaced the battery and that was it.
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mustangs68
Moderator Posts: 14326
From: Hampton,Virginia,USA 1968 Fastback & 1995 Vert MCA#39406 M&M #12
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-24-2001 05:48 PM
how hard would it be for you to change starters?Longshot is a bad starter causing excess draw on the ELECT system after repeat useage
sam
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Boss Hoss
Gearhead Posts: 203
From: Georgia
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-24-2001 09:58 PM
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH THEIR REPLIES TO MY POST!!! I think I have finally, FINALLY solved the problem. Like 66351stang and MrXerox said earlier, it turned out that it was indeed a bad battery. Yes, my old battery did have 12 volts in it, but it turned out it was only a surface charge, and not a "real" charge. I went to Advance Auto Parts, bought the absolute CHEAPEST battery they had (because I still wasn't sure it was the battery and I didn't want to make a big investment yet), and it solved the problem! I can now start my car as many times as I want! HOORAY! Oh, and I took DanWarren's advice and replaced the battery cables, too! Thanks again to everyone for your kind assistance! I hope I can return the favor! ------------------
***Boss Hoss*** *andy* ([email protected])
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Dave Witthoeft
Gearhead Posts: 1728
From: IL.
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-25-2001 02:02 AM
I love a happy ending. ------------------
MCA# 48755
71 Mach 1
69 Fastback
92 F-150
M&M#884
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