Electrical/Ground

Terry/Iowa

Terry/Iowa

Junior Member
Last time I drove my 29 Tudor it started right up. I drove it to my front yard to wash it and shut it off. When I went to restart it, no juice whatsoever. Since it had set for awhile before this ride I suspected a bad battery. I put a charger on it for a couple of hours and it started right up, I drove it a couple of miles and stopped and shut it down. It restarted right up, moved 20 feet and died. Trying to re-start proved no juice at all again. I took the battery out and to a shop to have it checked. Checked out fine. I suspect a bad ground. Cleaned all terminals, posts, and the frame where it grounds. A test light shows bright when connected to the two posts. With the Neg cable on and the light between the Pos and the frame, nothing. I have another ground wire from the engine to the frame, but it does look crappy and I am going to replace it too. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
 
I had a similar issue, when the car ran great and then one day, the car would start, then sputter and died. I believe the problem was the condenser.
Cheap enough to replace it and see if that fixes the issues you are having.
 
This problem just shouts "bad connection", either on the power or ground side. An inexpensive voltmeter would really simplify finding it. Other wise, recheck all your prior work. Sorry, but that is all I can suggest from here.
 
When the car stopped I had no electricity registering on the gauge, no lights, no horn, just no electricity at all. I do believe it is a connection somewhere also, but haven't been able to find it. I do have a voltmeter, but so far either get full current or no current. If there was a bad connection somewhere other than a ground I would think I would show some current from the Pos pole to ground, but don't. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep plugging away.
 
did you ck the connection at the starter? use your test light or volt meter and trace it out to where you lose the 6 volts. start at the batt cables on the battery then branch outwards
 
I have only checked the starter in a cursory manner. That is where I am going to concentrate next. I'm done for the day and will look at that first thing in the AM.
 
I had a modern car with a bad internal connection between cells. The vehicle acted exactly as described.
 
NO JUICE AT ALL means it is the battery, the cables and or their connections to the starter, or possibly the starter, unless, during the NO JUICE AT ALL period you have tried the horn or lights, and if they were also NOT workng we are back to
Battery
Cable hot/ground Connections (also bad battery switch or connectios if applicable)
Starter

Good luck !
Its an easy one to diagnose.
 
Mitch//pa said:
did you ck the connection at the starter? use your test light or volt meter and trace it out to where you lose the 6 volts. start at the batt cables on the battery then branch outwards
Click to expand...

I agree with Mitch's approach. However in my case shortly after I bought my Model A acted much like yours. When it ran it ran great. I looked at the wiring from junction box splices everywhere behind dash panel more splices. I bought a new wire harness. 2 hours work and has been great ever since. If old wiring is suspect just replace the whole thing with new.
 
Gyrodoc said:
I agree with Mitch's approach. However in my case shortly after I bought my Model A acted much like yours. When it ran it ran great. I looked at the wiring from junction box splices everywhere behind dash panel more splices. I bought a new wire harness. 2 hours work and has been great ever since. If old wiring is suspect just replace the whole thing with new.
Click to expand...

i like to diagnose things and not replace until i am sure
my customers appreciate that also;)
 
While jumping across various connections to locate the problem, leave the headlights ON! The moment you find the bad connection, "VOILLE' YOU HAVE HEADLIGHTS"!
REMEMBER, once you locate an electrical problem, the "FIX" is usually very SIMPLE & QUICK! (Dog here, Ol' Bill hopes you all DON'T git tired uf his name always POPPPIN' up, he's jist tryin' to HEP!)
Bill W. & Buster T.
 
Terry/Iowa said:
When the car stopped I had no electricity registering on the gauge, no lights, no horn, just no electricity at all. I do believe it is a connection somewhere also, but haven't been able to find it. I do have a voltmeter, but so far either get full current or no current. If there was a bad connection somewhere other than a ground I would think I would show some current from the Pos pole to ground, but don't. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep plugging away.
Click to expand...

If you have a stock 6 volt positive ground system the Pos pole
is the ground. Also I think you are saying current when you mean
volts.

Bob
 
An easy way to check that, is when it wont start, run a jumper cable from the pos. terminal to a good ground on the engine. If it starts right up, then you know it is the ground.
 
I agree with all who said battery cables, ground connection to frame or at the starter. Do a "wiggle" test of the cables to be sure you don't have a hidden problem there. Verify clean and tight connections at starter, ground and battery terminals.
I think even if you have a bad condenser, starter, wiring or ignition switch you will have lights OR starter cranking or some kind of draw on the ammeter.
 
I would test first then fix or replace any parts.
My first guess is the battery posts and cables should be cleaned.
My second guess is a bad cable to terminal connection at the battery end.

When it won't start put your volt meter between the parts that are suspect, such as put the negative meter lead on the negative battery post, and put the positive meter lead on the cable end of the same battery post. If it reads 6 volts, you know you have a bad connection there, so clean the post and cable end. If it shows 0 volts, then move the positive cable up to the starter switch stud. If it now shows 6 volts, you know that end of the cable has a problem. Turn the lights on for this testing, as you need to complete the circuit.
 
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