Different but the same....

[krowbar]

Ok not a MOPAR but...... I have a 50 Chevy pickup body on a 74 Chevy heavy 1/2 ton frame. 350 motor and 350 turbo trans. Went out to start it, turned key on. Electric fans come on. Turned key to start....CLICK! Ok battery is dead......I thought. So I try it again,but this time no fans no click. Damn this battery is really dead.......I thought. Put charger on it for about 10 min. Figured I'd check the voltage 14 at battery 13.5 at alternator. Figure fans should kick in when I turn the key....nothing! So I unhook battery charger and check the voltage after it set a few minutes. 12.6 volts at battery, alt, power distribution block,fuse box. Cool, I try to start it.... NOTHING. No lights fans barely turning. 3 volts with key in run position.....WTF? So I procede to do my tests. Start unplugging connectors to try and find my short. I even took the starter off and had it tested. No luck. By this time I'm pissed.I got the bright idea of running my jumper cables from my ( now read this well) rear mounted battery to the engine block. Battery has top and side posts. I have the cables hooked up to the side posts,so I ran the jumper from the TOP post to engine.....Holy ****! it works. Bad ground somewhere. Checked all connections on the neg cable. All good. The problem....... BAD INTERNAL CONNECTION FOR THE SIDE MOUNT TERMINAL INSIDE THE BATTERY. I know it's not a MOPAR but it's the same wiring. I just hope I can help someone with this info.

 

[CudaChick1968]

If all you get is a click when you're trying to start a Chevy, it's probably the starter solenoid (about $15 at the parts store). Glad you figured out your problem though!

 

[krowbar]

Starter is good. The battery side post terminal took a crap. Not the cable,but the battery post itself. It was grounding just enough to show 12 volts at the engine,but put any draw to it the connection couldn't handle any current. I have to switch my connection to the top post of the battery.

 

[krowbar]

update.. Well since I had the starter off, I figured I would check the solenoid. While removing the solenoid I had snapped the head off one of the mounting screws. No real big problem..drill it out and re-tap the hole. COOL, finished that. Put solenoid back on. Remount the starter. Remount steering column. By that time I'm in need of a beer. I start putting up some tools and notice this large diameter spring setting on my bench. THE SOLENOID RETURN SPRING. DAMN IT!

 

[CudaChick1968]

... oops. Time for another beer!!!

 

[Moparsmitty]

I hate finding extra parts left over. It'll be funny later, maybe much,much later.

 

[krowbar]

I hate finding extra parts left over. It'll be funny later, maybe much,much later.

I was laughing the moment I saw it setting on my bench. If I saw someone else do that I'd be rollin on the floor.

 

[tallhair]

I was laughing the moment I saw it setting on my bench. If I saw someone else do that I'd be rollin on the floor.

When i was putting together the the second set of my skates the other day, this time with air tool assist, I took a break after putting the first two wheels on and was sitting back smoking a cigarette and feeling quite happy with myself. As I'm looking at my handy work i notice it looks funny and won't balance / stand up on end like the first two would.... hmmm.

I HAD PUT THE WHEELS ON THE WRONG SIDE SO THE SCALLOP THE TIRE SNUGGLES IN WAS FACING UP AND WHEELS DOWN !!!

I had to laugh at myself and I thought at least I'm using air tools. I would have been uber pissed had I been wrenching those things by hand !

 

[krowbar]

Ah.... All is well now either the 50. Now I can swap the 50 and the coronet around so I have easier access to my MOPAR. I really need to invest in a bigger shop. That would be so sweet.