After over 2 months at the body shop I got my car back and was detailing it and carefully was cleaning the engine compartment with water. I had put about 100 miles on it since it was painted and backed it out onto the drive using the motor. When I was done cleaning it about 2 hours of dry time, it would not start. I covered the carb and breather with saran wrap. I hear a click at the solenoid. The battery seems good (its new, 4 months old), but I tried a jump and then a swap with my daily driver. Same click noise. So I got the voltmeter out, It is 12.7 volts at the battery termininals. 8.5 volts on the starter side of the solenoid when the ignition key is turned. 6.5 volts on the positive starter post on the starter motor itself when the key is turned. This seemed low and I was going to replace all the cables any way so I did. Same click noise with the new cables. For $12 I even got a new solenoid. Same thing, same click noise. I have HEI and ignition coil all in one. I opened it up and it is 100% dry. I have a new starter and flywheel that I put in a few months ago. The starter is bolted solid. I probably started it 100 times after the rebuild without an issue. I think it may still be the battery. I am charging it over night. If it doesnt work tomorrow I will take the battery to the auto parts store to test it. I also think it may be a jammed up starter gear on the flywheel. What do you think? Could it be a nuetral safety switch or something? I dont think so as I am getting a click sound. What else could it be? Thanks. Need to fix it fast the dream cruise is around the corner.
I'm not a mechanic...but your batt voltage sounds really good! Can you turn the engine over by hand? I had two starters in the past 18 years(on this car) jam up in the flywheel..and when it did all I got was a clicking noise. Each time I tried to turn the engine by hand and it wouldn't budge! I just undid the bolts until it snapped back and it started fine after that.
WHat bolts did you loosen the starter bolts? I will carefully grab the fan and try to turn it that may unjam things it i can get the flywheel to move, or am I all wet?
I'd check the battery connections for corrosion. if none, open the hood and let the sun shine in and dry off your plug wires,starter and starter cables
if you get a "click" it sounds like a locked starter... maybe tapping on the starter will help... ...:Handshake...
Does your ground cable have a good "Clean" connection where its bolted to the block??? Also... is your new solinoid well grounded to the fender apron??? It grounds through its mounting bolts to the apron.
I have not ever known that the solenoid is grounded. The voltage seems low to me. My money is on the ignition switch...
Take battery to auto parts an have checked out. I'm thinking under load, battery voltage is dropping way too much. Double check all grounds!
You said you tried swapping the battery with a known good one, so to me that rules the battery out. You have a new starter solenoid, and while it's not unheard of for brand new parts to be no good, my gut feeling is that's not the problem here. My main bet is on a jammed starter. I had the same thing happen to my '74 Grabber a couple of years ago. I had just put the engine back in, and had only started it one time and drove it down the street and back. Got back, shut it off, then tried to start it again a couple of hours later, nothing, just the click from the solenoid. Tried to turn the engine by hand, it was locked up tight. I took the bolts out of the starter, and I had to whack it with a rubber mallet a few times it was jammed so tight. Another problem I had back when I first put the engine in my '72... bad ground between the engine block and the body of the car.
fixed Of course it is the last attempt that works. A tooth fractured in the starter gear on the flywheel and jammed it up. The starter was a rebuilt duralast from autozone. They gave me a new one on warranty. What a pain in the arse though when you think it is all done.
