[1985] Total Electrical Failure
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
[1985] Total Electrical Failure
I went out to start my 1985 tonight and no joy - engine doesn't turn over at all, no lights come on. So, I figure that the battery has died and get out my battery charger. Battery charger refuses to work - in fact it sees no battery to charge between the positive terminal and the engine ground. Battery charger is known good...any ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (j3studio)
Try hooking both cables direct to the battery terminals. If that works, you may have bad battery connections. If that doesn't work, disconnect both cables and place the charger across the battery terminals and see if the battery charges. You may have a bad battery or something is draining it.
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 8:45 PM 7/3/2004]
[Modified by Hooked on Vettes, 8:45 PM 7/3/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (j3studio)
Your battery is open circuit. You may have a corroded battery cable lug or you may have an internal cell connector broken. Remove the cables (neg first) and clean the lugs and the battery terminals and before you reconnect, clip your battery charger onto the battery terminals. If it will not show any charging current your battery is open circuit and needs replacing. When reconnecting the cables, connect the neg last.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (j3studio)
It was the battery - time to see what kind of warranty AC Delco has on a three month old product that had been used for less than a 1000 miles...
..thanks to all who responded on a holiday weekend!
:flag
[Modified by j3studio, 8:48 PM 7/4/2004]
..thanks to all who responded on a holiday weekend!
:flag
[Modified by j3studio, 8:48 PM 7/4/2004]
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (Bilyk)
delco batteries are replaced for free in the first year if they fail (assuming their warranty is the same worldwide)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (j3studio)
delco batteries are replaced for free in the first year if they fail (assuming their warranty is the same worldwide)
Thanks! One more (clueless) question related to this issue...if the multimeter I just purchased shows infinite resistance does this confirm the deadcell diagnosis?
Thanks! One more (clueless) question related to this issue...if the multimeter I just purchased shows infinite resistance does this confirm the deadcell diagnosis?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: [1985] Total Electrical Failure (bogus)
Thanks, Andy - I was so good at this...um...15 years ago.
By the way, how are you doing?
By the way, how are you doing?
