Ignition Switch?
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Ignition Switch?
Hello all,
84 Vette here. Tried to start 'er up after sitting for a month and engine did not turn, no clicking, no dash lights...nothin. Tried a few more times after charging the battery and I got the clicking and dash response but it still did not even attempt to turn over. Nothing two seconds later, and nothing at all on subsequent tries-no clicking or lights..
Would this be an electrical problem/ignition switch? Not a car expert, also haven't been able to test the voltage yet.
Any response would be appreciated.
Thanks.
84 Vette here. Tried to start 'er up after sitting for a month and engine did not turn, no clicking, no dash lights...nothin. Tried a few more times after charging the battery and I got the clicking and dash response but it still did not even attempt to turn over. Nothing two seconds later, and nothing at all on subsequent tries-no clicking or lights..
Would this be an electrical problem/ignition switch? Not a car expert, also haven't been able to test the voltage yet.
Any response would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
OK, lets go over lead acid batteries. Measure the voltage on the battery terminals, 12.0 volts and below, discharged, charge your battery up with a battery charger, it takes usually overnight. Short charging period will operate lights but usually will not provide enough charge to operate the starter motor which draws 100+ amps. 12.9 volts and higher, fully charged and linear in between.
Car batteries do not like sitting for long periods (4+ wks) and you should not do that. Batteries self discharge up to 1% each day even disconnected and collect lead sulphate on the plates. At first you can charge the battery which converts the lead sulphate back into lead and sulfuric acid (other reactions occur too), but left sitting, lead sulphate becomes hard and it is a good insulator and will not convert upon charging which leaves you with effectively a smaller amp-hour battery, like a motorcycle battery. You should always use a battery tender, or trickle charger, and keep the battery charged. If you do you will have normal battery life. If you let the battery discharge, you will shorten the life of the battery, maybe even totally ruin it. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop!
Charge your battery overnight, it will probably then start your engine. If you still only get dash lights and a click from the starter, measure the battery terminal voltage during a crank attempt, the battery voltage should not fall below 9.0 volts or you have a discharged battery, poor battery cable connections, or a defective battery.
Go and sin no more!
Car batteries do not like sitting for long periods (4+ wks) and you should not do that. Batteries self discharge up to 1% each day even disconnected and collect lead sulphate on the plates. At first you can charge the battery which converts the lead sulphate back into lead and sulfuric acid (other reactions occur too), but left sitting, lead sulphate becomes hard and it is a good insulator and will not convert upon charging which leaves you with effectively a smaller amp-hour battery, like a motorcycle battery. You should always use a battery tender, or trickle charger, and keep the battery charged. If you do you will have normal battery life. If you let the battery discharge, you will shorten the life of the battery, maybe even totally ruin it. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop!
Charge your battery overnight, it will probably then start your engine. If you still only get dash lights and a click from the starter, measure the battery terminal voltage during a crank attempt, the battery voltage should not fall below 9.0 volts or you have a discharged battery, poor battery cable connections, or a defective battery.
Go and sin no more!
