Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Karl Groves]

Ever have one of those forehead-slapping moments where you thought "Wow! Why
didn't I think of that?"

I've always been notoriously bad at diagnosing stuff that goes wrong with my
cars.  I'm not sure why. I can put stuff together great, but when something
goes wrong, I'm hopeless.  That is, until I read your post.   This is
exactly the approach I take when debugging something on a website or
web-based application I've built. Just as you said, go to where you know
everything is right and work your way up the chain.

 

Karl Groves
AIM/YIM: karlcore
Skype: eight.pistons
www.WebAccessStrategies.com

25,000+ Antique and Classic Cars For Sale:
www.thehotrodclassifieds.com
New listings added literally every minute! 

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim H. Thompson
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 8:30 PM
To: 'The Chevelle Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

 

Rule #1 start with something you know is OK. Since the power comes from the
battery that is the first thing you make sure is right.

 

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Josh Campbell
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 8:39 PM
To: The Chevelle Mailing List
Subject: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

 

Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car wouldn't
start I just figured it was the fact the positive end of the soleniod was
loose or the crappy battery terminals, which I am not ruling out yet.
Anyway today I jerked the starter off and fixed the soleniod. I tried the
key and it bumped over for a second then quit. Then I tried the lights,
nothing. So I thought bad connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the
fuses and nothing. So tomorrow I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other
ideas in case that don't work? Anyway thanks in advance.

 

Josh Campbell

66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)

66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)

87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right
stuff)

71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

  

  _  

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http:/mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8H
DtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ%20>  it now.

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[John Nasta]

Good to hear that you got it fixed.

BTW, if anyone DOES ever try to run power directly to the solenoid,  
remember to tape up the lug on the "S" wire and tuck it up someplace  
where it won't cause a short or get burned.


John Nasta


Quoting Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

I replaced the battery cables this evening it fired up. Now I   
remember why I love working on the old junk, what you suspect is the  
 problem it normally is the problem!!! No stinking sensors or extra   
junk to drive you crazy!! Anyway thanks for the input.



Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the  
 right stuff)

  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)


-
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Bill Bradley]

Good to know it was something simple ( and hopefully CHEAP ), now weather 
permitting go enjoy it!

Bill Bradley
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/chevellerestoration/
67 Chevelle Malibu 305/700R4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1649723
71 Triumph Spitfire
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2506950
82 Kawasaki KZ305CSR

 Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
I replaced the battery cables this evening it fired up. Now I remember why I 
love working on the old junk, what you suspect is the problem it normally is 
the problem!!! No stinking sensors or extra junk to drive you crazy!! Anyway 
thanks for the input.


Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right 
stuff)
  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

   
-
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.
--

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Josh Campbell]

I replaced the battery cables this evening it fired up. Now I remember why I 
love working on the old junk, what you suspect is the problem it normally is 
the problem!!! No stinking sensors or extra junk to drive you crazy!! Anyway 
thanks for the input.


Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right 
stuff)
  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

   
-
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Jim H. Thompson]

Rule #1 start with something you know is OK. Since the power comes from the
battery that is the first thing you make sure is right.

 

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Josh Campbell
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 8:39 PM
To: The Chevelle Mailing List
Subject: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

 

Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car wouldn't
start I just figured it was the fact the positive end of the soleniod was
loose or the crappy battery terminals, which I am not ruling out yet.
Anyway today I jerked the starter off and fixed the soleniod. I tried the
key and it bumped over for a second then quit. Then I tried the lights,
nothing. So I thought bad connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the
fuses and nothing. So tomorrow I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other
ideas in case that don't work? Anyway thanks in advance.

 

Josh Campbell

66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)

66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)

87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right
stuff)

71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

  

  _  

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try
  it now.

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[John Nasta]

I seriously doubt that that's the problem. That's about the last thing  
I would suspect.


Honestly, it sounds like

A) Bad battery. Have it load tested.

B) No power and/or no ground - aka bad battery cables

Headlights not working certainly has nothing to do w/ the ignition switch.

If you want to test the theory, disconnect the "S" wire from your  
starter and replace it with a length of 14ga wire. Turn the key on and  
touch the new wire to the positive battery terminal. This bypasses the  
ignition & neutral safety switches and sends power directly to the  
solenoid. I'll bet it doesn't make your headlights work or your car  
start though.


Get rid of those removable battery cable ends and get new cables with  
factory ends. I'll just about guarantee you that it's either that or  
the battery itself.


John Nasta


Quoting Chuck Kranz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:



 Replace the ignition/start switch.
-Chuck - 65 Chevelle 327 4 speed

John Nasta wrote:
Don't just buy terminals. Get new cables. You'll be glad you did.   
You may want to convert to the Ford solenoid as well while you have  
 it apart.


How's the battery? The headlights not working suggests that the   
problem is not the starter.


Good luck,
John Nasta


Quoting Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car
wouldn't start I just figured it was the fact the positive end of   
 the soleniod was loose or the crappy battery terminals, which I  
am   not ruling out yet. Anyway today I jerked the starter off  
and   fixed the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped over for a  
 second  then quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought  
 bad  connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and   
nothing.  So tomorrow I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other   
ideas in case  that don't work? Anyway thanks in advance.



Josh Campbell
 66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
 66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
 87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add   
the  right stuff)

 71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Chuck Kranz]

 Replace the ignition/start switch.
-Chuck - 65 Chevelle 327 4 speed

John Nasta wrote:
Don't just buy terminals. Get new cables. You'll be glad you did. You 
may want to convert to the Ford solenoid as well while you have it apart.


How's the battery? The headlights not working suggests that the problem 
is not the starter.


Good luck,
John Nasta


Quoting Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car  
wouldn't start I just figured it was the fact the positive end of  the 
soleniod was loose or the crappy battery terminals, which I am  not 
ruling out yet. Anyway today I jerked the starter off and  fixed 
the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped over for a second  then 
quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought bad  connection, 
I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and nothing.  So tomorrow 
I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other ideas in case  that don't 
work? Anyway thanks in advance.



Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the 
 right stuff)

  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[John Nasta]

Don't just buy terminals. Get new cables. You'll be glad you did. You  
may want to convert to the Ford solenoid as well while you have it  
apart.


How's the battery? The headlights not working suggests that the  
problem is not the starter.


Good luck,
John Nasta


Quoting Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car   
wouldn't start I just figured it was the fact the positive end of   
the soleniod was loose or the crappy battery terminals, which I am   
not ruling out yet. Anyway today I jerked the starter off and   
fixed the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped over for a second   
then quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought bad   
connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and nothing.   
So tomorrow I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other ideas in case   
that don't work? Anyway thanks in advance.



Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the  
 right stuff)

  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)


-
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.
Try it now.

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Bill Bradley]

Josh
first thing first, check your ground!

Bill Bradley
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/chevellerestoration/
67 Chevelle Malibu 305/700R4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1649723
71 Triumph Spitfire
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2506950
82 Kawasaki KZ305CSR

 Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car wouldn't start 
I just figured it was the fact the positive end of the soleniod was loose or 
the crappy battery terminals, which I am not ruling out yet. Anyway today I 
jerked the starter off and fixed the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped 
over for a second then quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought bad 
connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and nothing. So tomorrow 
I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other ideas in case that don't work? Anyway 
thanks in advance.


Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right 
stuff)
  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)

   
-
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.
--

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[mike f]

take the battery and have it tested. Take the starter, later if needed, and 
have it tested. Check the connections to the horn relay. What a pos that can 
be. Check grounds. 

do you need more? I have more if needed. 

I hope this helps. 
mike


- Original Message 
From: Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: The Chevelle Mailing List 
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2008 7:39:14 PM
Subject: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start


Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car wouldn't start 
I just figured it was the fact the positive end of the soleniod was loose or 
the crappy battery terminals, which I am not ruling out yet. Anyway today I 
jerked the starter off and fixed the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped 
over for a second then quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought bad 
connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and nothing. So tomorrow 
I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other ideas in case that don't work? Anyway 
thanks in advance.



Josh Campbell
66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right stuff)
71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)


Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.


  

Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Re: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start

[Carl Ziegler]

Twist the positive battery cable, I have had that happen to me more times than 
I care to remember.

- Original Message 
From: Josh Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: The Chevelle Mailing List 
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2008 7:39:14 PM
Subject: [Chevelle-list] Car won't start


Hey all here is a good one. Not long after I got the 71 the car wouldn't start 
I just figured it was the fact the positive end of the soleniod was loose or 
the crappy battery terminals, which I am not ruling out yet. Anyway today I 
jerked the starter off and fixed the soleniod. I tried the key and it bumped 
over for a second then quit. Then I tried the lights, nothing. So I thought bad 
connection, I wiggled the wires and checked the fuses and nothing. So tomorrow 
I'm off to buy some terminals. Any other ideas in case that don't work? Anyway 
thanks in advance.


Josh Campbell
  66 SS 396 (Black on the rotisseree, 1st car never part with it)
  66 SS 396 (Red got it on a trade I only wanted the steering wheel)
  87 Monte Carlo SS (The modern Chevelle especially when you add the right 
stuff)
  71 Malibu (Something new to blow my money on)
 
  
Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.





  

Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.  
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ