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I attempted to start my 67 BJ8 this morning after two weeks non use and when I turn the key nothing happens. No sound, not even the noise of a discharging battery. The battery cut off switch was on (ie., the battery was off) during this period. Any suggestions as to what it might be and what I can do?
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- Thread starter Bragor188
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Ah, the dreaded Lucas God has been angered again. Did you try sacrificing a sheep yet?
Seriously, I am assuming you have verified that the battery is fully charged, and the connections are tight, etc. Did you try running a jumper cable directly from the battery to the starter? I have also seen instances where the starter pinion is stuck in the ring gear. Usually gently rocking the car while in first gear will allow it to disengage. It's hard to troubleshoot on-line, but if the above items don't work, its time to grab the multimeter and start tracking circuits.
Good luck, and I'll keep an eye on this subject and see what luck you're having. Maybe I'll have a golden moment of revelation during the day.
Bugeye58
[ 06-08-2003: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]
[ 06-08-2003: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]</p>
Seriously, I am assuming you have verified that the battery is fully charged, and the connections are tight, etc. Did you try running a jumper cable directly from the battery to the starter? I have also seen instances where the starter pinion is stuck in the ring gear. Usually gently rocking the car while in first gear will allow it to disengage. It's hard to troubleshoot on-line, but if the above items don't work, its time to grab the multimeter and start tracking circuits.
Good luck, and I'll keep an eye on this subject and see what luck you're having. Maybe I'll have a golden moment of revelation during the day.
Bugeye58
[ 06-08-2003: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]
[ 06-08-2003: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]</p>
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I will add to the above good advice, try "exercising" the battery cutoff switch. Also jumper the battery return side to ground to bypass this switch.
D
D
Thanks, I tried your suggestions and found out that the battery was stone cold dead, which I thought was impossible because I always use the cut off switch. However, two weeks ago I had a new (negatively charged) radio installed, which I realized last night was drawing its power from the battery's negative terminal, which (I believe) is not affected by the battery turn off switch, which I assume only turns off the positive flow. Now I am considering reversing the car's polarity. I have read a number of messages in the forum as to how to do it, but is there any reason not to do it?
If you don't want to go to the hassle of reversing the polarity of the entire system, there are converters available to run a Negative Ground accesory from a Positive Ground system. Any decent auto radio shop should have a line on where to find one. One of the Sprites that I have in California came equipped with one when I bought it, and it worked just fine. But, a radio in a Sprite just isn't me, so now it's on a shelf out there.
I've never done a Big Healey, but have done Spridgets, and the odd Triumph, and it really was no big deal at all. On the cars with an electric tach, it entailed changing the impulse loop inside the tach, and not much else. Just remember to polarize the generator! One benefit of Neg. Ground (yes, I know I should say Neg. Earth)is that if you want to, you can replace the generator with an alternator.
Bugeye58
I've never done a Big Healey, but have done Spridgets, and the odd Triumph, and it really was no big deal at all. On the cars with an electric tach, it entailed changing the impulse loop inside the tach, and not much else. Just remember to polarize the generator! One benefit of Neg. Ground (yes, I know I should say Neg. Earth)is that if you want to, you can replace the generator with an alternator.
Bugeye58
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Stu,
I'm afraid that I don't understand your terminology. What is a "negatively charged radio"? Do you mean that the radio is for a positive ground car? Is the battery wiring in your car original - the negative terminal connected to the starter solenoid?
It doesn't matter which side of the battery the switch is in, everything gets turned off either way. It is a series circuit, everything leaving one battery terminal has to return through the other terminal.
I wouldn't reverse the car's polarity until the other problem is sorted out.
I have read that neg ground reduces corrosion & that pos ground reduces it. I don't think that there is much proof either way. An alternator has the advantages of higher output, especially at low engine rpm, & has less moving parts than a generator. The readily available alternators can only be installed on neg ground cars.
D
[ 06-09-2003: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
I'm afraid that I don't understand your terminology. What is a "negatively charged radio"? Do you mean that the radio is for a positive ground car? Is the battery wiring in your car original - the negative terminal connected to the starter solenoid?
It doesn't matter which side of the battery the switch is in, everything gets turned off either way. It is a series circuit, everything leaving one battery terminal has to return through the other terminal.
I wouldn't reverse the car's polarity until the other problem is sorted out.
I have read that neg ground reduces corrosion & that pos ground reduces it. I don't think that there is much proof either way. An alternator has the advantages of higher output, especially at low engine rpm, & has less moving parts than a generator. The readily available alternators can only be installed on neg ground cars.
D
[ 06-09-2003: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
Thanks Dave. I wasn't rushing to change the car's polarity, it's just that I have read so many forum responses dealing with it, I was trying to figure out the reason to go through the hastle. As for the radio, I bought one of the inverters from Antique Automobile Radio, Inc., which someone wrote about to deal with the inability to use a modern radio in an earth positive car, but I have not installed it yet. However, if the radio didn't drain the juice from the battery tthrough the negative pole, than I am at a loss to explain what happened this weekend. Prior to installing the radio, this never happened before.
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Stu,
Another question, if you haven't installed the inverter yet, how is the radio in question working at all? Something doesn't add up to me. Is the radio in question made for a pos ground or neg ground car?
I'm not saying that the radio is positively not draining the battery. If the radio installer made some kind of weird connections the battery switch could be bypassed for the radio circuit & still draining the battery. I am in the position of trying to guess what the installer did. Some installers are very knowledgeable & some are not as bright.
D
Another question, if you haven't installed the inverter yet, how is the radio in question working at all? Something doesn't add up to me. Is the radio in question made for a pos ground or neg ground car?
I'm not saying that the radio is positively not draining the battery. If the radio installer made some kind of weird connections the battery switch could be bypassed for the radio circuit & still draining the battery. I am in the position of trying to guess what the installer did. Some installers are very knowledgeable & some are not as bright.
D
The installer connected it directly to the battery, but could not connect the antenna because it positive charge of the car would short out the radio. Because the radio is connected to the battery I have to turn the radio off when the car is off or it would drain the battery. Without the inverter the only radio channels I can get are those that are close and do not require an antenna.