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Flat bed ride...2 miles

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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 12:28 PM
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Default Flat bed ride...2 miles

Took wife to dinner in the 69..went to leave,and turned key and dash lights were dim,no cranking..zip...figured a ground issue of some sort...tried kicking over at starter,and it cranked,started and died minute I turned lights on...called AAA,was on hold 30 minutes...recorded message was "we are overloaded"....so called local towing...pushed vette back (key in ignition..powersteering) and noticed lights on dash were bright after turning steering wheel.....loaded it and took it home..this morning,went out,and it fired right up...will start checking grounds,etc,but suspect something in ignition switch....
Anyone experience this ? Want to make sure I check everything..battery is new...I'm not strong on electrical stuff....

BTW:First time calling AAA...dues are $65/year and that is what my tow cost last night...
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
BTW:First time calling AAA...dues are $65/year and that is what my tow cost last night...
Triple-A sux monkey nutz. Get Hagerty. I called a "non-authorized" towing company one night for a flat-bed ride and Hagerty reimubursed me anyway...
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by TonySinclair
Triple-A sux monkey nutz. Get Hagerty. I called a "non-authorized" towing company one night for a flat-bed ride and Hagerty reimubursed me anyway...
Funny thing was,the local was an "authorized" AAA truck...I will call the local AAA office Monday...it was AAA's 1-800 number that was swamped....I'm supposed to have free towing for 25 miles...did not think to tell driver I was AAA...more concerned about getting it home..good ribeye,though...
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
..good ribeye,though...
Bully's?
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 01:02 PM
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Probably a loose contact, could be anywhere along the circuit, but in my case it was the cables at the battery. They looked fine, but when I went to disconnect them to take the battery out for charging they just kinda fell away. Similar symptoms to what you described. Also, at one point when vette was running (at night) I noticed dash lights dimmed when I applied the brakes. I guess that was simply the battery tipping forward in the box and cables losing contact.


Now whenever I see someone complaining of a dead battery and looking for a jump, the first thing I do is check their cable connections to the battery. Very often a few jiggles works, and a jump is not even needed.

Last edited by PRNDL; Apr 9, 2006 at 01:04 PM.
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 01:07 PM
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Not just, to long ago...we were joking about tow trucks...ummm. Hope its just a minor glich!
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by TonySinclair
Bully's?
Renegade out on Olde 80...cook your own steaks..ribeye is $8.00 with baked spud,salad,bread...Porterhouse $10,Top Sirloin $5.00...Thurs -Sunday...
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by PRNDL
Probably a loose contact, could be anywhere along the circuit, but in my case it was the cables at the battery. They looked fine, but when I went to disconnect them to take the battery out for charging they just kinda fell away. Similar symptoms to what you described. Also, at one point when vette was running (at night) I noticed dash lights dimmed when I applied the brakes. I guess that was simply the battery tipping forward in the box and cables losing contact.


Now whenever I see someone complaining of a dead battery and looking for a jump, the first thing I do is check their cable connections to the battery. Very often a few jiggles works, and a jump is not even needed.
Went out and checked battery terminals and ground to frame..all tight and looks good.Started it again,but after letting it warm up some,I turned headlights on and it died immediately..got to get a meter on the Alternator...
Rich
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by TonySinclair
Triple-A sux monkey nutz. Get Hagerty. I called a "non-authorized" towing company one night for a flat-bed ride and Hagerty reimubursed me anyway...

State Farm has a towing thing with their insurance as well.

I think it costs us $30/year per car, but it's paid for itself several times over already.

It paid for when our Saturn's motor seized, it paid for when the gas gauge on our Jag shorted out and we ran it dry...And it paid for when we had a hose rupture on the same Jag, for a tow to the repair shop.

I'll agree that AAA isn't worth what they offer...


Back to the issue at hand: Try wiggling the ignition a bit. See if it shifts around on the steering column...It might be that the back side of it is hitting somewhere on the back of the column, causing a short.
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 08:38 PM
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[QUOTE=Sprzout


Back to the issue at hand: Try wiggling the ignition a bit. See if it shifts around on the steering column...It might be that the back side of it is hitting somewhere on the back of the column, causing a short.[/QUOTE]

Already did that...got to start checking system with a meter now...agree,though,there is some issue disrupting power flow...at least that is what I think at this point..
Rich
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 11:22 PM
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
Renegade out on Olde 80...cook your own steaks..ribeye is $8.00 with baked spud,salad,bread...Porterhouse $10,Top Sirloin $5.00...Thurs -Sunday...
Hold on. You go out and have to cook your own steak? Why not stay home and not worry about how mine wine/beer/vodka you can drink?
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 12:11 PM
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Had the same problem on one of my cars, anytime I touched anything electrical it killed the engine (brake lights, head light, etc.). I put a new alternator on and the problem disappeared.
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Tewski
Had the same problem on one of my cars, anytime I touched anything electrical it killed the engine (brake lights, head light, etc.). I put a new alternator on and the problem disappeared.
That could be it..I'll know Thursday...
Rich
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by rcread
Hold on. You go out and have to cook your own steak? Why not stay home and not worry about how mine wine/beer/vodka you can drink?
They cook the spuds...and my wife does not drink...
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 06:21 PM
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Did you check the starter solenoid? I had an issue similar and it turned out my solenoid was loose.
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Kalway
Did you check the starter solenoid? I had an issue similar and it turned out my solenoid was loose.
I think the Solenoid is ok as it started the next day. While it was warming up, I turned the lights on,and it died immediately....and now won't even crank...I'll solve this Thursday when I get a meter to trace out the system...I had a similar problem with my 78 years ago when starting after Vette was warmed up..no cranking at all..that was the the solenoid spring..but this issue is different..
Rich
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
....and now won't even crank...
I forgot to add in my original post, mine wouldn't turnover after I killed the engine two or three times either.
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 11:51 PM
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Hey Rich, sorry to hear about the electrical problem, email Joe at Classic Wire, Classicwire@aol.com he's in Fallbrook, he's an electrical guy that also restores classic cars, I met him at the Storm Stadium show last year, he restored the red split window that was there. I'll look for his number and PM you.
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by pcfred
Hey Rich, sorry to hear about the electrical problem, email Joe at Classic Wire, Classicwire@aol.com he's in Fallbrook, he's an electrical guy that also restores classic cars, I met him at the Storm Stadium show last year, he restored the red split window that was there. I'll look for his number and PM you.
Think I met him...he works on Exotics,as well...if same guy...I'm getting a meter WED...should be able to determine issue by Thursday..
Rich
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