81 starting/electrical issue
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
81 starting/electrical issue
Has anyone seen this on an 81 or similar?
Car is running/working fine. Then one day it won't start, seems like a dead/low battery. The interior lights are dim and it tries to turn over, with no success. So I jump it...starts fine...drive it for a while. No worries.
A few weeks later...same thing. So I buy and install a new battery. Everything is fine for weeks, then one day won't start again. Jump it...starts up and continues to start for a month.
This morning go to start it..and guess what?
So I go to jump it, only this time it won't start. When I hook up the jumper cables, the interior lights get brighter and the starter turns over more aggressively...but alas no starting. I try for a minute, maybe 90 seconds, and I look over the the jumper cables are smoking! I ended the jumping attempt quickly.
Sound like a short? Bad starter? Something else? Just very odd.
During this process I did inspect the cables to the battery and they seems in tact, not frayed.
Any thoughts on where to start the investigation would be appreciated.
Car is running/working fine. Then one day it won't start, seems like a dead/low battery. The interior lights are dim and it tries to turn over, with no success. So I jump it...starts fine...drive it for a while. No worries.
A few weeks later...same thing. So I buy and install a new battery. Everything is fine for weeks, then one day won't start again. Jump it...starts up and continues to start for a month.
This morning go to start it..and guess what?
So I go to jump it, only this time it won't start. When I hook up the jumper cables, the interior lights get brighter and the starter turns over more aggressively...but alas no starting. I try for a minute, maybe 90 seconds, and I look over the the jumper cables are smoking! I ended the jumping attempt quickly.
Sound like a short? Bad starter? Something else? Just very odd.
During this process I did inspect the cables to the battery and they seems in tact, not frayed.
Any thoughts on where to start the investigation would be appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
i dont think its your batteries. i would have an auto electrician test your alternator. apparently when an alternator starts to get sad it can drain power out of your battery and slowly get worse and worse. if your alternator tests fine then some other accessory may be draining power but i would definatly start with the alt.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
What is the condition of your wiring under the hood? Have you checked to see if you're getting a spark?
I tend to agree with the Ausie, I don't thnk it's the battery. I would have started where you did, with the battery connections. You maght want to make sure that the ground connection is good too.
Verify that you have a spark when you turn it over and we'll go from there.
I tend to agree with the Ausie, I don't thnk it's the battery. I would have started where you did, with the battery connections. You maght want to make sure that the ground connection is good too.
Verify that you have a spark when you turn it over and we'll go from there.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 43
From: Plano TX
My 80 has a low current leak that I haven't found yet that also drains the battery over a week or so. Since I also drive on the track I installed a battery cutoff switch so the battery is isolated until I drive the car. Plus it's a good theft deterent.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
it's not your starter that is the problem - you said yourself that you cranked it for 90 seconds and it wont fire up and then you posted that you are getting spark - sounds to me like you are out of fuel - take your air cleaner off and check to see if you are getting fuel when you work the accelerator - you will see the fuel squirting as you look down thru the top of the carby.
hope this helps.
hope this helps.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster PA
The Interior light time delay
or the alternator may have a slight power draw.
If you have a analog clock in the dash that isn't working that can be the problem too, the electric wind device inside may have the points stuck together.
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