Need electrical help
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Ocean Isle Beach NC
Need electrical help
My 63 was running fine. Went on vacation and the car sat for 10 days.
Got home, put a charger on the battery, everything was fine. Disconneted the charger.
Tried to start the car, heard several clicks and the entire electrical shorted out. No lights, no radio, no anything. Checked all the fuses and they were ok. After about 10 minutes, all the electrical was restored. Had lights, radio, etc. Tried to start the car and the same thing happen. Again after about 10 minutes electrical was restored. Put charger back on the car and tried to start the car. Same as above results.
Any suggestions?
Got home, put a charger on the battery, everything was fine. Disconneted the charger.
Tried to start the car, heard several clicks and the entire electrical shorted out. No lights, no radio, no anything. Checked all the fuses and they were ok. After about 10 minutes, all the electrical was restored. Had lights, radio, etc. Tried to start the car and the same thing happen. Again after about 10 minutes electrical was restored. Put charger back on the car and tried to start the car. Same as above results.
Any suggestions?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
I'd first check the battery cables...both ends...on the battery and on the connections to the block and starter. THEN, I'd check the battery itself using a load tester. Chuck
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
If you check the batt connections and they're ok, I would check the BIG RED WIRE going into your connector block. Look under the steering column, it's there. The cheap blade connectors are a very weak link to the elect system. Have someone put a little pressure/wiggle the wire and see if things light up for you. I hard wired this wire (bypassed the block) and it's been fine for years now. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
In addition to the above, IMO if it is the bulkhead connection to the 12R big red wire, the horn will blow while nothing else works. That's because the horn is powered under the hood by the battery/alternator, and the horn switch grounds the relay under the hood to energize the horns. 
PS: That assumes your horns worked fine before the starting problem, and that the bulkhead connector is tight.
PS: That assumes your horns worked fine before the starting problem, and that the bulkhead connector is tight.
Last edited by magicv8; Mar 8, 2006 at 10:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Ocean Isle Beach NC
Originally Posted by magicv8
In addition to the above, IMO if it is the bulkhead connection to the 12R big red wire, the horn will blow while nothing else works. That's because the horn is powered under the hood by the battery/alternator, and the horn switch grounds the relay under the hood to energize the horns.
As for my horn, Bubba has his way with it. He put in air horns. When I tear into the interior, I will correct this.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
I have to beg to differ a bit about the clock. 
IF you still have the original clock, it is an electromechanical clock. When it winds down, the points connect, and the clock electrically rewinds. Then the circuit is broken.
The clock then mechanically "ticks" and works till it winds down again, the the points touch, and it rewinds again.
Now, if you have a quartz converted clock, all bets are off.
I would guess that they would be "powered" all the time. Chuck
IF you still have the original clock, it is an electromechanical clock. When it winds down, the points connect, and the clock electrically rewinds. Then the circuit is broken.
The clock then mechanically "ticks" and works till it winds down again, the the points touch, and it rewinds again.
Now, if you have a quartz converted clock, all bets are off.
I would guess that they would be "powered" all the time. Chuck
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 3
From: Mt. Prospect Il
I had the exact same problem. I traced it to the quick disconnect switch I had installed on the battery about a year ago. It was the kind with the green **** you screw in and out. The connection had corroded. When I took the quick connect off and put the cable directly back on the battery, the problem was solved.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Ocean Isle Beach NC
Chuck
Thanks but the clock is quartz. I changed it about 2 years ago.
Norm
Thanks but the clock is quartz. I changed it about 2 years ago.
Norm
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
I have to beg to differ a bit about the clock.
IF you still have the original clock, it is an electromechanical clock. When it winds down, the points connect, and the clock electrically rewinds. Then the circuit is broken.
The clock then mechanically "ticks" and works till it winds down again, the the points touch, and it rewinds again.
Now, if you have a quartz converted clock, all bets are off.
I would guess that they would be "powered" all the time. Chuck
IF you still have the original clock, it is an electromechanical clock. When it winds down, the points connect, and the clock electrically rewinds. Then the circuit is broken.
The clock then mechanically "ticks" and works till it winds down again, the the points touch, and it rewinds again.
Now, if you have a quartz converted clock, all bets are off.
I would guess that they would be "powered" all the time. Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,771
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Originally Posted by xsray
I had the exact same problem. I traced it to the quick disconnect switch I had installed on the battery about a year ago. It was the kind with the green **** you screw in and out. The connection had corroded. When I took the quick connect off and put the cable directly back on the battery, the problem was solved.
Be sure to remove the battery cables from the battery and clean the posts and cable ends. I Have seen more than one car with high resistance at the battery connections causing electrical gremlins.