Most common ELECTRICAL Problem in Start up?

Roadster62

Roadster62

Well-known member
Just wondering what electrical problem is the most common that keeps an A from starting after sitting for years in inside storage? Bob
 
I can not speak exactaly to an A, however I can tell you with old engines of the same age, that have sat for years, it is the points, condenser and sometimes the coil that I almost always end up fixing before anything will run.
 
Guess I'll buy and replace all of the above first, but isn't there going to be another elecrtical gremlin that prevenths all those new parts from working?
 
I'm with Mike. First and foremost a good battery with clean connections is a must. I find very few issues with points, but, if the contacts have become rusted/oxidized/corroded then a little emery cloth will take care of that.
 
Roadster62 said:
Guess I'll buy and replace all of the above first, but isn't there going to be another elecrtical gremlin that prevenths all those new parts from working?
Click to expand...

What current symptoms are you seeing (i.e. what troubleshooting have you done so far?); without finding the root cause, you may wind up with lots of nice, new parts and a car that still won't start.

If you have Les Andrews' red book, take a look at the 4-3 Troubleshooting chart.

If you don't have that handy, Mike V. Florida has a pretty thorough checklist that pretty much covers everything as well.

Good luck! I've experienced more than my fair share of electrical problems lately, but also learned quite a bit just by going through the process of trying to solve them (with lots of help from the friendly folks here)...
 
I haven't started my Model A since last October and as Mitch said, I'm probably going to have some oxidation on my points. This might be another time I have to hand crank it for the first time. :D

Hopefully the predicted rain will wash the :mad:road salt:mad: off this week.:)
 
Ok, I'll give it a shot, it will be 30 years this August that Dad last drove it, maybe it's time to take it out. Bob
 
A car that has set that long, almost anything can happen. Heck, those points could even be frozen at the pivot. Good luck. Its an 'A', so there shouldn't be too much keeping it from running.
 
On a car that's been sitting a loooong time, remove the nuts from the terminal box with a 3/8" nut driver & tighten the back nut well & add some star washers for a good connection. I've seen some that were tight & didn't look corroded, but wouldn't pass current through!! Bill W.
 
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