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Intermittent Start

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Old Oct 5, 2019 | 01:37 PM
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Default Intermittent Start

My '69 (350) will start many times without any problem. Then next time when I turn the key, I get a click and all electric is dead. I can wait a bit, jump start and the car starts. I do notice there is initially a huge draw on the battery/jumpers in these cases. I have replaced the battery, starter, alternator and dressed the wiring at the starter. Any Ideas?

Last edited by Ed.Crosby; Oct 5, 2019 at 02:09 PM. Reason: Added Information
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Old Oct 5, 2019 | 07:05 PM
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Auto or standard transmission?
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Old Oct 6, 2019 | 07:50 AM
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Nuetral safety switch may need adjustment but if you say that ALL electric is dead then it's a battery, the ground cable or its connection to the frame or the positive cable may be corroded inside the jacket. The list of everything you replaced precludes a lot of the Usual Suspects
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Old Oct 6, 2019 | 09:23 AM
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If all of the above check out, you may want to check the ignition switch. I would temporary wire up a starter switch which will bypass the ignition switch. Don't forget to put the car in neutral. If the car won't start with the internal switch, but starts with the external switch, you have narrowed down the problem to the switch or wiring to it. Jerry
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Old Oct 6, 2019 | 09:33 AM
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Default Intermittent Start

Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
Nuetral safety switch may need adjustment but if you say that ALL electric is dead then it's a battery, the ground cable or its connection to the frame or the positive cable may be corroded inside the jacket. The list of everything you replaced precludes a lot of the Usual Suspects
I have ruled out the neutral switch. Looks like its time to replace the positive cable. I have noticed a little corrosion at the starter end.
Thank You. r/Ed
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Old Oct 6, 2019 | 10:56 AM
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Does this happen after the car is hot? If so it's called starter heat soak and you need some kind of heat shield. I had the same problem on my 76 and that's what cured it.
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Old Oct 6, 2019 | 03:48 PM
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click goes dead. new battery, so i assume good cable connections. the big frame ground straight below battery.

aluminum wire. Cheap copper terminal. Steel frame. Diff metal electrolysis. Don need no salt water to corrode this.

Last edited by derekderek; Oct 6, 2019 at 03:52 PM.
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Old Oct 7, 2019 | 07:28 AM
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I'll check it tonight - Thanks
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 07:12 AM
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Turned out to be corrosion inside the positive cable. I had to splice that section because I could not find a replacement cable long enough. That will be my next quest. A 7-foot cable.
Thanks for all the responses.
r.\/Ed
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Ed.Crosby
Turned out to be corrosion inside the positive cable. I had to splice that section because I could not find a replacement cable long enough. That will be my next quest. A 7-foot cable.
Thanks for all the responses.
r.\/Ed
Check LetricLimited - they carry a high quality cable set. May be available from some of the vendors, too.
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Ed.Crosby
Turned out to be corrosion inside the positive cable. I had to splice that section because I could not find a replacement cable long enough. That will be my next quest. A 7-foot cable.
Thanks for all the responses.
r.\/Ed
All the vendors carry a replacement cable or you can make your own.


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