JMills

So it won't start--- nothing, no click, no nothing! Have horn, lights , radio and a battery I just disconnected the trickle charger from! Push it out of the garage-- work on it all day, get in to try it and it starts right up! What do you all think? Second time this has happened. Did it back in the fall. Appreciate any ideas! Thanks.

Jmills

68hemi

Have you checked the bulkhead connection under the hood on the firewall? Wiggle it while some one turns the key to start. Very common problem with these cars.

65GGvert

I'm betting on the connection to the starter solenoid, or the solenoid itself. My 65 did the same thing and the solenoid fixed it. When you turn the key to start, does the battery gauge deflect left? If you turn on the headlights and try to start, do the headlights dim?

Tom Austin

I just went thru the exact same thing with my '66 - exact same symptoms as well. I'm running a mini starter and figured it was toast . . . took it off and used jumper cables to test it - and it worked fine. Put it back in and replaced both battery cables and the connectors for the starter wires - and my car fired right up!

Good luck!

Tom

SW Vette

Check your battery cable connections.

rtruman

Connections including the negative cable to the block if you have a
battery disconnect clean it real good The starter connections also .

dkleather

I had this happen yesterday. Drove 25 miles, parked for 30 minutes, got back in and nothing. Wiggled the battery cables although they seemed tight and started right up. Cleaning as stated above scheduled for today's activity!

vettsplit 63

X2. I chased an intermittent no fire condition, even where it would quit running going down the road. It was the bulkhead connector. It is very common..

Frankie the Fink

The OP is thanking everybody but hasn't answered this key question yet....

I usually put a multimeter across the battery while engaging the starter...with the ignition coil H/T lead grounded. If the voltage drops to 9V-10V that's pretty normal. Higher and there are prob corroded connections somewhere. Lower and the battery may be shot..

68hemi

All of the above suggestions are good and of course it could be any of them. Maybe he is checking them out one by one to figure it out. I am sure he will let us know what he finds.

rtruman

Also check the ignition switch make sure its getting to the starter or solenoid

rtruman

Make sure when you turn key on the power is going to solenoid and starter.

JMills

I appreciate everybody's help/advice! And I literally took everyone's advice. Started with the battery cables and gave them a nice cleaning on both ends ! Brand-new battery, but nevertheless checked the amps, A-OK. Took off and cleaned all the connections on the selonoid/ starter! Checked the bulkhead connection, Heard a click, so I'm thinking possibly that was the problem ! Thanks 68Hemi ! Anyway, it started fine today, about a half dozen starts with no failures ! I'll keep my fingers crossed !


Thanks again, you guys are great!
Jmills

68hemi

You can take that bulkhead connector apart from the engine side. Be careful with those old brittle plastic barbed press holders that hold the two pieces together. Inspect the electrical connections, spray with appropriate contact cleaner, brush lightly with a brass brush and lube all with dielectric grease and put it back together.
If the holders are broken or there are other problems with the connectors you can replace the individual connectors in the bulkhead block. If it is beyond repair I know they were available repo years ago only with the complete wiring harness (expensive) but may be available now separately.

SonnyAK

My '66 had a similar issue recently. It was very intermittent at first and progressively happened more frequently. It would crank normally one time, then the next time, nothing at all! My ignition switch was going bad. Replaced it and has been working well ever since.

Frankie the Fink

Bulkhead plastic connector boxes and the pins are available from Lectric Limited....replacing them is not for the faint of heart - I've done it.

If the problem is in that area its most likely corrosion. If cleaned with a brass brush you must make absolutely sure no brass strands are left in the connector when finished...

Mike Terry

Pull the battery and take it in and have a load put on it to test it. You may have a bad or dead cell in your battery.

number3

x2 !

68hemi

Hey guys you need to follow the thread by reading ALL of the posts, the OP found the problem.

Silver surf

I have a similar problem. Turn the ignition switch, interior lights dim but starter doesn’t do anything. Anyone have a troubleshooting procedure?