Car died while driving - electrical problem?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
Car died while driving - electrical problem?
While driving my '71 this evening, my car just stalled and I lost all power (no lights, accessories, etc). This happened as I was accelerating after stopping at a stop sign. The car is sitting at the side of the road as I write this as I wait for AAA to dispatch a flat bed to haul the car home. This is obviously an electrical problem, but I don't know where to start looking first. I ask the forum members for ideas and guidance to help me diagnose this problem.
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks,
Rick
Last edited by AkrHack; May 30, 2015 at 11:37 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 71
From: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
While driving my '71 this evening, my car just stalled and I lost all power (no lights, accessories, etc). This happened as I was accelerating after stopping at a stop sign. The car is sitting at the side of the road as I write this as I wait for AAA to dispatch a flat bed to haul the car home. This is obviously an electrical problem, but I don't know where to start looking first. I ask the forum members for ideas and guidance to help me diagnose this problem.
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks,
Rick
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
While driving my '71 this evening, my car just stalled and I lost all power (no lights, accessories, etc). This happened as I was accelerating after stopping at a stop sign. The car is sitting at the side of the road as I write this as I wait for AAA to dispatch a flat bed to haul the car home. This is obviously an electrical problem, but I don't know where to start looking first. I ask the forum members for ideas and guidance to help me diagnose this problem.
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks,
Rick
If your battery is dead and you were running off your alternator and your alternator quit the engine would die along with everything else that is electrical. Get it towed home and then get back with us after you do some checking.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
Basically faced with same thing today and I am replacing the battery and the alternator. Battery won't hold a charge and the charger shows the alternator is operating at 25% so both are getting replaced. BTW Hagerty Road service was great at bailing me out of the problem 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
I checked the easy stuff first -- the battery is fine and the ground cable looked good to. I next put the right side of the car up on jack stands so I could examine the wiring around the starter. When I wiggle the wiring under there, arching can be heard. See the pic that shows the bad wire/connection. Question to the forum: is this a fusible link or is this simply a connector?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
I checked the easy stuff first -- the battery is fine and the ground cable looked good to. I next put the right side of the car up on jack stands so I could examine the wiring around the starter. When I wiggle the wiring under there, arching can be heard. See the pic that shows the bad wire/connection. Question to the forum: is this a fusible link or is this simply a connector?
Unwrap it and see what's going on. That is a very hostile area because of heat and water so it's likely you have a real bad connection.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
Here is a close up pic of the connection. It looks pretty fried. I'll disconnect the battery and pull it apart to see what I'm up against. I would assume my local NAPA store would have what I'll need to replace the connection/connector.
Last edited by AkrHack; May 30, 2015 at 10:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
Here is the connection. It just came right apart. I'm leaning toward cutting out the connector and soldering it together. I'll cover the joint with some Heat-Shrink tubing. That repair shouldn't too much like Bubba was in my garage!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,563
Likes: 29
From: Northridge California
St. Jude Donor '14
That might be fusible link. Tread carefully.
When I pulled my engine, I took the time to clean up all of the starter wiring and use heat sleaves on it in critical areas. Just an idear.
When I pulled my engine, I took the time to clean up all of the starter wiring and use heat sleaves on it in critical areas. Just an idear.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
Good call Chinaski. I agree that I need to determine if that is a fusible link or not. This is such a melted mess that I can't tell. Does anyone know if there is supposed to be fusible link around the starter?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
I definitely don't want to replace a fusible link with a solder joint. There may be another problem lurking that caused the link to blow in the first place. As I look that the wires on either side of the connection, one wire is larger than the wire on the other side. In my mind this points to it in fact being a fusible link. I'm going to give NAPA a call to see if they have them and will hopefully know the correct size of the link I need.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 59
From: Long beach NY
St. Jude Donor '15-'16, '18
Had same problem,hope pic helps, remember it's special wire. It's the wiring between the barrel splices, needs to be proper gauge and length
It's 14 ga at stater link
Last edited by Calo69; May 30, 2015 at 05:44 PM. Reason: Add to again
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 276
From: Akron OH
Thanks to everyone who provided info, advice and pictures. 24 hours ago, I didn't know much about fusible link or even what they looked like. In the end, I soldered the original fusible link together with the wire from the engine wiring harness and covered the repair with a high temp shrink sleeve.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 59
From: Long beach NY
St. Jude Donor '15-'16, '18
Sounds like it worked, but I don't like the idea of using same link, they are designed to fail and yours was compromised already, I strongly suggest new wiring, if you can't find any I have plenty, if you p.m. Me I'll be happy to send you section.