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Quick background, 75' that when I would engage the starter, made a loud grinding nose. Immediately stops when release. Unbolted starter and while still hooked up, tried to test starter but nothing happened. So I disconnected starter wiring all the way, (and took pics of wiring), and bench tested starter. Worked perfect from what I could tell. Reinstalled starter exactly like pics and now when I engage starter, lose power to the car for a few seconds before it comes back. One thing at a time obviously, what the heck happened to my electrical?
for the grinding check the condition of the bendix gear and the flywheel/ring gear teeth. What do you mean you loose power, do you still have the grinding sound, is the starter engaging, etc. ?
Do you have the red/black wire going to the B terminal and the purple wire going to the S terminal?
Quick background, 75' that when I would engage the starter, made a loud grinding nose. Immediately stops when release. Unbolted starter and while still hooked up, tried to test starter but nothing happened. So I disconnected starter wiring all the way, (and took pics of wiring), and bench tested starter. Worked perfect from what I could tell. Reinstalled starter exactly like pics and now when I engage starter, lose power to the car for a few seconds before it comes back. One thing at a time obviously, what the heck happened to my electrical?
The starter wouldn't test when you had it off the engine because it had no ground. As was stated already, check the starter gear and ring gear on the flywheel, if both of those are in good shape you might need to shim the starter. Did this just start happening? If so maybe the solenoid is getting weak and not fully engauging.
I was going to be checking the shims next but but first need to get this electrical thing figured out. When I put the car into accessory, everything's fine. As soon as I finish the turn, I hear something that sounds like it's shorting and lose power to the car (interior lights turn off and everything). A few seconds later, the power comes back on like nothing happens. As for the purple wire, I assume mine is the red one on the right. Here's a pic I took for reference so I could put it back the same way I took it off.
I was going to be checking the shims next but but first need to get this electrical thing figured out. When I put the car into accessory, everything's fine. As soon as I finish the turn, I hear something that sounds like it's shorting and lose power to the car (interior lights turn off and everything). A few seconds later, the power comes back on like nothing happens. As for the purple wire, I assume mine is the red one on the right. Here's a pic I took for reference so I could put it back the same way I took it off.
This pic was of it as I took it off, and reassembled exactly the same way. However update, ran a quick makeshift ground and problem disappeared. I didn't start all the way since I was under the car holding the wire, but didn't hear the grinding. 69Vette, there's supposed to be a ground that I'm missing?
Yes. The main ground where the battery cable exits under the car and connect to the frame and one on the passenger side that bridges the insulated gap at the motor mount. Some may also (or have instead) a cable that connects from the frame to the rear of the motor or at the starter mount. My 80 has the one at the motor mount.
I'll go ahead and run the ground tonight and do some cleanup of the wires under there. Really annoying trying figure out what the hell the previous owner has done. I may not know much, but I know how to take pics and put things back exactly like I found them.
ground wire is shown hanging down under the number 6 plug, there is a tapped hole on the side along the top edge of the block
wire is about 12" long and the other end bolts to the side of the frame by the engine mount
You ABSOLUTELY need that main ground wire (#4 awg, minimum) running from the frame to the starter bracket mounting bolt (which bolts into the engine block). That is the primary ground for the engine and the direct ground line for the starter. If your engine starts without that line, it's a 'gift'.
Bingo, Gnd. cable missing,... your lucky you have not destroyed the electrical system.
must have a gnd cable from the car frame to the engine block, preferable near the starter.
Never assume the way it was, ...is the same as.... the way it should be.
Losing power when engaging starter
