Model A won't start

JoeMarine

JoeMarine

Senior Member
Ugh, Last time I started my Model A was a little over a week ago. We've been having a pretty warm winter here in Virginia. Went out to start the car and it would not start. Not a battery issue. . .plenty of current. When I step on the starter, nothing at all. Could it possibly be something with the humidity . . .condensation on any of the contacts? Has anyone dealt with this is the past? Any help would be appreciate.
 
It is warm here in SW VA as well, if you have jumper cables try grounding a starter bolt to the frame somewhere and see if it is a ground problem. I have had problems with that and finally ran a wire from one of the bolts to the frame which let the starter turn faster, I don't have engine splash pans which tend to do the same thing depending on how much paint is on things.
 
How do you know you 'have plenty of current' ? With that statement I'll assume the lights work.
If that's the case I'd first look at the start switch. Its not hard to remove and check/clean it.[ From your statement the starter doesn't work at all ? ]
If the lights/etc don't work, then I'll go back to the first question. Have you checked for a ground problem by using a jumper cable from battery to trans/engine ?
 
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I have had problems when my car sits usually winter to spring, most of the time I clean points and then check for spark , always worked for me.
 
If you have a volt meter you can check the battery voltage as well as the voltage to the starter... The frame to batt cable connection is also important to be clean... Sounds like maybe your batt maybe low. Start it with the hand crank that always fun
 
Could be a number of problems from a bad battery cable, poor ground, or just a bendix (starter) stuck in the flywheel. Put the car in high gear and rock it back and forth. If it is stuck you may actually hear the bendix retract. Of course the battery cables and associated connections along with the starter switch as the guys have said can all be at issue as well.

Check it out and lets us know.
Larry Shepard
 
Put on the lights and hit the starter. if the lights do not dim, it is a connection or starter rod / switch / cable problem. If they go to very dim, the electrical system is at least involved to the starter and a mechanical problem is more likely.
 
Sounds like a low battery... take it out, clean all contacts and charge it... for a day or so... I had a 2A/6V trickle charge which you'd thik would do a better job but I grabbed a 6A/6V from from harbor fright and charged it for 2 days.. Battery has been great for the past month with only 3 driving trips. If you not have a SG cell tester, they are handy...
 
My vote stuck bendix.

Turn on the headlights.
Have someone look at the lights as you depress the starter
Do the light dim? - yes, the bendix is stuck
Do the light dim? - no, the problem is with the starter or switch. Something is open or not making connection.
 
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Mitch//pa said:
A low or shorted battery can also make the lights dim when pushing the starter button
Click to expand...

Yep, and this is where an inductive ammeter comes in handy.

Lay the inductive ammeter across the starter cable and read the draw while pushing the starter switch.
If it's low (like 100 amps or less) then you have a poor connection or low battery.
If the meter reads high (like 200 or more amps) then the starter is shorted or stuck.
 
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