starter ground
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
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From: Palmyra PA
starter ground-repaired
Got the rear on my '80 up on stands for a brake repair. I believe this may have happened once before. She won't start now even after replacing the battery. All accessories have power. I believe with the rear tilted, fluid had traveled on my cables and compromised the starter/solenoid ground. It's typically quite wet in that area. Will oil disrupt the ground in this manner? I'll let you know after I clean things up and assure good ground if she starts back up again. Turn key, nothing for now.
[Modified by drs80vette, 1:02 PM 10/16/2003]
[Modified by drs80vette, 1:02 PM 10/16/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: starter ground (drs80vette)
Can;t see how. The grounds are external on the block and the starter itself. Suspect your battery if anything. Measure the voltage at the alternator to ground when it will not start. Must have at least 9+ vdc to kick the starter. If rasing the rear end up wets the engines so much to short out wiring you have some serious leaks buddy.
Think you said it cranked??? If it does and no start, raising the rear way up can drain the carb bowl on a Q-Jet back down the line. Do you have gas squirting in the primaries when you press the accelerator?
Think you said it cranked??? If it does and no start, raising the rear way up can drain the carb bowl on a Q-Jet back down the line. Do you have gas squirting in the primaries when you press the accelerator?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: starter ground (bigvette1)
If you have the rear up on jack stands already, slide up toward the front a little and clean the ground cable where it comes out of the battery box and attaches to the frame. Then when you get to the front do the same at the starter. Neiter of these two jobs are that hard to do and don't consume much time.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
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From: Palmyra PA
Re: starter ground (drs80vette)
Makes me wonder too about my leaks, It's just a strange thing......kind of like the Cubs game last night. I'll let you all know how it turns out. For now when I turn the key, silence. At one point during multiple attempts it did turn over but died. I'm suspecting my cables at the starter. *^#$% gremlins!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Palmyra PA
Re: starter ground-repaired (drs80vette)
I removed the thick short length of ground cable from the starter bracket, cleaned all contacts and grind all conections to bare metal. There was indeed years of grime at these locations. I assume that when I jacked the rear up, the movement twisted a connection enough to break ground because of the rust and dirt. She starts now. To be safe I am going to replace the cable.
