Does Not Start

D

Dbuehl

Junior Member
Hello Folks,

Went to start the 30 coupe yesterday & nothing. No sound, click or anything.
Put a battery tender on it overnight & tried again today. Again nothing. Doesn’t even try to turn over.

Pulled Les Andrews Mechanics Handbook vol 1 off the bookcase & went to the troubleshooting ignition sys section.
Grabbed my DMM meter & followed steps 1 to 5 for testing.

1 Test for 6v @ the battery - good
2 Test for 6v @ both terminal box wing nuts - good
3 Test for 6v @ both coil terminals - good
4 Place a piece of paper between the point contacts in the distributor.
5 Turn on ignition & test for 6v on the open point arm – good

Reassembled & tried starting again. Nothing at all!
Horn works & all the lights work too.

I spent the next couple minutes yelling at it & now I’m completely out of ideas.

Any thoughts what to check next?

thanks

PS: Drove it a month ago when we had those 60-70 degree days.
 
The starter switch might be dirty. It can be easily taken off, and clean the contacts.
Hope this helps. Jeff
 
There is a good chance that the starter drive is most likely stuck in the ring gear... try rocking the car in gear to free it or worst case remove unbolt the starter assy and pull it back some... this method may need a hammer and a block of wood
 
Put it in 3rd and see if you can turn the engine over by pushing the car. If it won't move, just push it really hard rearward. It will pop free. Don't pull it forward. You can pull the bumper off going forward. Good luck. Search this on youtube. I have a video there.
 
Thanks guys. Have to pack for an early business trip to VA tomorrow. Won't be back until Wed. It will have to sit till then.
 
Jacksonlll said:
Put it in 3rd and see if you can turn the engine over by pushing the car. If it won't move, just push it really hard rearward. It will pop free. Don't pull it forward. You can pull the bumper off going forward. Good luck. Search this on youtube. I have a video there.
Click to expand...


Make sure the ignition key is off when pushing in gear.
 
Turn the lights on and step on the starter, Do the lights dim?

If not, then the starter isn't getting the current it needs. Could even be a worn out brush.
 
Mitch//pa said:
There is a good chance that the starter drive is most likely stuck in the ring gear... try rocking the car in gear to free it or worst case remove unbolt the starter assy and pull it back some... this method may need a hammer and a block of wood
Click to expand...

Jacksonlll said:
Put it in 3rd and see if you can turn the engine over by pushing the car. If it won't move, just push it really hard rearward. It will pop free. Don't pull it forward. You can pull the bumper off going forward. Good luck. Search this on youtube. I have a video there.
Click to expand...

Mikeinnj said:
Make sure the ignition key is off when pushing in gear.
Click to expand...


That did the trick!
Third good push & heard cross between a ping & a pop.
Jumped in & it fired right up. Would have made this update sooner but had to take it for a drive around the block! Where I live that's 20 miles.

Thanks all for your input.
 
Another reason why this forum is such a blessing. Somebody has already dealt with the issue you may be having. Sometimes my pride slows me from asking for help. Then when I finally admit I don't know the guys on this forum pour out options to get it fixed. Together we can accomplish much!
 
chap52 said:
Another reason why this forum is such a blessing. Somebody has already dealt with the issue you may be having. Sometimes my pride slows me from asking for help. Then when I finally admit I don't know the guys on this forum pour out options to get it fixed. Together we can accomplish much!
Click to expand...

Yup that and the fact that everyone has read what the issue is and how it was solved and how to check for said issues were all better off knowing it now too.

I used to forget which way to push the car if the starter bendix gets stuck - so i tied it into that old saying: Two steps forward one step backwards - you want to drive forwards but gotta take the car backwards sometimes. So push it from the front haha.

SO heres a dumb question: Lets say you pull nose up to a curb with a slight down hill grade where its enough you cant push the car backwards and noones around to help. Or lets say you backed into a parking spot up against the curb and now the starter is jammed. Can you jack up one rear wheel, put the car in 3rd, key off of course, then rotate the wheel as if the car was rolling backwards to un-jam the bendix?
 
Can you jack up one rear wheel, put the car in 3rd, key off of course, then rotate the wheel as if the car was rolling backwards to un-jam the bendix?
Click to expand...
It's worth a try. One could also loosen the starter mounting bolts and try it that way.
 
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