BAD NEWS. I GOT TOWED YESTERDAY. AS I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM TOWN, I WOULD GET ABOUT 30MPH, AND THE MOTOR JUST BOGGED DOWN.
I WOULD PULL OVER, WHAT A MINUTE, START IT UP, AND IT WOULD GO MAYBE 50 FEET, AND BOG DOWN AGAIN. THEN THE BATTERY GOT SO LOW, START WAS A NO GO. I GUY PULLED OVER TO JUMP ME, BUT I WOULD GET NOTHING WHEN TURNING THE KEY, AND THEN WHEN IT WOULD CONTACT, NOT ENOUGH JUICE TO GET IT TO TURN OVER, SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK.

NOW HERE IS A CLUE: EVER SINCE I GOT IT RUNNING A FEW DAYS BACK, I WOULD EVERY NOW AND THEN JUST GET A CLICK WHEN STARTING. AFTER A FEW TIMES, STARTER WOULD CATCH FINE, AND CRANK RIGHT UP. I HAD A VERY SIMILIAR PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND FOUND IT WAS DUE TO MY POS CABLE NOT HAVING GOOD CONACT WHERE IT CLAMPS INTO THE POS CABLE TOWER CLAMP AT THE BAT

I LOOKED AT MY POS CABLE AT THE BATTERY, AND ITS FLAKEY AT BEST. ITS ONE OF THOSE CABLES THAT GET CLAMPED IN THE BATERRY POST CLAMP. AND IT BARELY HAS ANY SLACK, SO IT ALWAYS HAS TENSION ON IT. AND NOW IT LOOKS AS IF ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE CABLES INNER CORE IS ACTUALLY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE POS TERMINAL CLAMP.

NOW THIS CONTACT MAY BE ENOUGH TO KEEP JUICE TO THE DASH LITES AND RADIO AND SUCH, IT SURE ISNT ENOUGH TO TAKE THE AMPS WHEN TURNING A MOTOR OVER. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER TIME, THE CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE, SO THE CABLE MAY BE JITERRING AROUND ENOUGH TO CUT POWER, CAUSING THE BOG.

WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHECKED THE FUEL PUMP BY REMOVING A FUEL LINE, WITH THE LOW CHARGE THAT WAS IN THE BATTERY. WORKS FINE. OF COURSE, NOT ENOUGH JUICE TO TURN THE MOTOR OVER

IM CHANGING OUT BOTH BAT CABLES TONITE.

I HAVE ALREADY TRIPLED CHECKED ALL COIL CONNECTIONS, ETC, AND EVERYTHING LOOKS OK.

ILL GET PICS POSTED TONITE, AND GIVE AN UPDATE.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OUT THERE?

 

I had a sudden "no start" situation a few months back. Went into the garage, turned the key expecting it to start as it always had and nothing. Radio and lights worked but no power to starter. I wiggled the positive battery cable and it started right away. Drove off to run some errands, no start again in the parking lot. Wiggled cable, drove home.

Took cable off, cleaned it up, reattached so that cable hang straight down rather than on an angle as it had been.

No problem since then. I'll probably replace the cables over the winter just to be on the safe side.

 

John, I had a very similar experience that was also the cable connection to the battery. After getting towed home I removed the battery to put it on a charger and the corroded connector just fell off! :eek:

Battery would not take a charge, and the real clue - while driving at night, every time I hit the brakes the lights would flicker!! I would say corroded cables is a good guess, and replacement is a good place to start. Positive cable replacement is rumored to be a beech! MJ

 

Be sure to check ground cables also - engine to frame and battery to frame. Often overlooked but just as important s the pos cable.

 

Oh, I hate electrical problems.

 

Had a similiar problem last year.
Positive cable was corroded about 4" from the battery connection.
A few strands of wire was enough for interior light and clock but even they wouldn't work for awhile after getting clinking with tyring to start her.

 

I'm having similar problems.

flynhi - where is engine to frame ground? Battery to frame ground is easy. I saw in another thread that the ground is supposed to be on the passenger side engine mount area, but I got under the car and saw nothing. Are there bolt holes, or should I see something to ground to? Is there a site that shows a picture or drawing of what the engine ground should look like? I've got a '70. Is the ground the same for each year?

Thanks...

 

How ironic, just recently I went out to start the old 'Vette up and it turned over like the battery was low. I waited a minute and cranked her over again and the lights dimmed. Tried it a third time and nothing...no power at all. I figured it was probably the battery (gives me trouble from time to time). I charged the battery up and still no power at all. I went out and bought another battery thinking that my battery was shot. I plopped the new battery in and still no power at all. I didn't have access to the internet so I couldn't come to the (as I call it) "forum of infinite wisdom." I first checked all the grounds and every thing was on the up and up. Couldn't figure out what the problem was so I checked my starter. I was messing with the wires when a wire fell down. The wire was supposed to be in the shape of an "O" and went on the starter terminal....instead it was in the shape of a "C" and hanging down. It was the wire that runs from the battery to the starter...it had been chewed through with time. I tightened her back down and plan on replacing it this winter. Sure feels good to fix your own car.