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I've got a 406 SBC in my 72 corvette, and have been fighting some various issues with it, so haven't been driving it as much as usual.
When i went to start it this morning (and have had this happen prior), I have voltage, but when I go to start, it seems like the power from the battery/starter is not enough to actually turn the engine over. I have a jump box, hook that up, and it cranks over no problem, so I'll be swinging by ye ole battery story soon to get a new one.
Real question, how much drag is there in the engine if it hasn't been run recently. I can hear the pistons trying to move inside the block without any oil in there, and assume that's what is making it harder to start for my ailing battery. It will start fine after only a couple days though, so maybe it's just battery and I'm overthinking things.
Do you hear any noise/clicks from the starter when you turn the key?
If not then more than likely it’s the negative battery terminal ground on the frame near the battery box. Take the bolt out, clean the metal around the threaded hole to make sure you’re attaching to good metal, and reinstall it with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.
Do you hear any noise/clicks from the starter when you turn the key?
If not then more than likely it’s the negative battery terminal ground on the frame near the battery box. Take the bolt out, clean the metal around the threaded hole to make sure you’re attaching to good metal, and reinstall it with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.
No. Do not use dielectric grease. It is not conductive. It does prevent corrosion but can hinder electrical contact
That's why you should never apply to the conductors on taillight bulbs or the end of a sparkplug.
Yeah. I think you're overthinking it. The oil on the cylinder walls is just splashed up there and drips off every time the engine is shut down. The oil film left behind and in the rings area is enough to lubricate during cranking. The only time I'd worry about lack of residual oil is after an engine has been sitting for a couple years or more.
When lead acid batteries run down, they make lead-sulfate crystals. If that stuff falls off the plates, before it gets re-charged, that much capacity is not ever coming back.
Do that a few times and that battery is shot. They especially do not like being deep discharged.
The less you discharge a lead acid battery, the longer it will last.
Or keep it at as close to 100% charge, as much as you can, and it will last as long as possible.
(Sorry guys, I was a chemistry teacher, I couldn't help myself )
Thanks folks, I'd just never heard the grinding sound before, probably because it was turning much slower than usual. Can't hear it when it cranks quick, just a bit gun-shy because there are only 100miles or so on the engine, and don't like hearing metal on metal.
Thanks for the chemistry lesson Leigh. Can I just tape those crystals back on, or do I need JB weld? Battery is new-ish, but I also had a short and definitely ran it down pretty hard at least once. It's still under warrenty, so that's nice. I'll get a new battery, verify all the connections are all good, and go from there.
For BikeSpace, compression is around 10:1. Runs great on 91 pump gas (once it's started).
Physical drag in engine while starting?
)
Battery is new-ish, but I also had a short and definitely ran it down pretty hard at least once. It's still under warrenty, so that's nice. I'll get a new battery, verify all the connections are all good, and go from there.
