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[news.columbus.rr.com]

I posted a question about a starter a while back and received a LOT of
helpful responses. Of course, I lost my hard drive and can't remember where
I posted the message.

In any case, I pulled the starter, had it tested, and yes, it was toast.
I've installed a new one and am still not getting anything more than a
"click" when I turn the key.

I have replaced both battery cables and the battery is new.
The starter is now new (I had it tested before I brought it home...so I'm
confident it's ok).

Where should I look now?

Thanks to everyone who helped out last time!

Scott

[Bill]

In article <uS0yd.7302$vb7.6051@fe1.columbus.rr.com>,
"news.columbus.rr.com" <ceiboss1@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Rabbit]

[Guest]

What am I missing here? When I read the
post, I thought, what the heck is a Executive? I remember a one off
vehicle
by Chrysler in 1966....Help me out, what
the heck do you own?
Does it have a solenoid? That could be
it.......Jump across the solenoid (its gonna
spark) and see if it cranks.

Dan
Milw......Nibble Nibble

[J. Dan Jones]

An executive is a base model Bonneville if I remember correctly or a step up
from the Catalina, whichever. The solenoid is integral to the starter, if
the starter was replaced, its probably been replaced also. Positive ground?
Are you kidding?, never mind that. put a volt meter on the battery and watch
the volts as you try to start it. I'd bet it doesn't change much from the
13V. Check your connections, First place I'd start is the back of the
starter switch in the dash, And Its probably one of the hardest places to
get to. The back connector has clips holding it on and I'll bet you a box of
donuts the connector or the switch itself is burned, fried. If you can see
the back after the connector is removed and it doesn't look burned, check
the connections from the firewall to the starter. somewhere its giving up
the connection, not holding the current. does it click just once per chance?
You did put a new solenoid on the new starter, didn't you?
Dan

"news.columbus.rr.com" <ceiboss1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uS0yd.7302$vb7.6051@fe1.columbus.rr.com...

[Guest]

Dan,

Thanks for the reply....I remember the positive grounds...I have a 53 Ford
Jubilee tractor with positive ground.

The Executive (also called the Star Chief Executive), I think was a step up
from the Catalina (which I owned before this one). The executive has a 6
inch deeper trunk (I can get ALL of the in-laws into at the same time). I
think, but I'm not sure it went something like Catalina (base), Bonneville,
then Star Chief Executive...but don't quote me on this. I'm still doing my
research. This one also has AC and the 412 under the hood (my Cat had a
389). I had to part that car because the frame was beyond repair. The nice
part of that...I know how to take everything apart now!

When I turn the key, I get a single click and that's it until I release and
do it again.

The new starter came with a new solenoid and the whole thing tested on the
bench before I installed it (trying not to do too many things twice. I'll
check the battery voltage and then go after the ignition switch. I suspect
there is something in the wiring that's not making a good connection.
Thanks for the help....I'm off to stand on my head under the dash.

Scott

[lab~rat]

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:31:56 -0500, "J. Dan Jones" <corvair@erols.com>
puked:

[Guest]

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 13:04:22 GMT,
ssc@remove_me.copelandelectronics.com wrote:

[Guest]

Thanks for all the help. Work got too hectic today to get out to play with
the car. I'm hoping to get out there in the next day or so....it's driving
me nuts to find out what it is now with all the ideas. I'll let the group
know as soon as I know something.

Thanks!

Scott

[J. Dan Jones]

I agree, the easiest is always best to start with first, but, in my case,
its always the hardest to get at place that's the problem, maybe Murphy
lineage. And since I have experience on the pre-69 GM ignitions I have seen
a high failure rate on those switches, And GM powerglide flex plates, and
other things specific to GMs.of that year. Yeah, the bad ground to the
engine from the chassis would be a good check, but to tell the truth, I have
yet to see one in actuality. I hope he keeps us posted about the outcome.
There's a systematic electrical way to troubleshoot it but to explain it to
someone who doesn't know the starting system here, is more than I'd care to
get into. Just offered a shot in the dark from experience.

J. Dan Jones, III
Virginia Peninsula Car Club Council
Vintage Chevrolet Club of America #41139
Corvair Society of America
Tidewater Corvair Club
Steel City Classics


"lab~rat" <chase@cheese.net> wrote in message
news:onvis0hgplf45vtt2pcno3jk4p6dpbcpl8@4ax.com...

[Terry]

First I hope that 412 was a typo ;-). I wouldn't be so confident that the
starter was good if I were you. Bench testing doesn't check your starter
under load only tells you if she'll spin up. Been there done that. You
would need to do a starter amp draw test in the car to be sure if it was
good. It may be hard to find this old piece of equipment now. Pontiac had
2 starters back then, a single and double contact. The double were for the
10:5 or 10:75 compression engines. By the way which one do you have, 338
hp, 356 hp or 376 hp?

The ignition switch is a piece of cake to drop out of the dash. Stick the
key in, using a safety pin stick it in the little hole to the right of the
key. Turn the key till the tumbler pulls out. You then can turn the bezel
to remove it (you may have to tap it with a screw driver to loosen it, be
careful). The ignition will then pull out from the dash. It is a lot
easier to get the wiring connector off the switch this way to check it.

Terry
God Bless Our Troops
http://www.nanettes-place.com/terryspontiac.htm


"news.columbus.rr.com" <ceiboss1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uS0yd.7302$vb7.6051@fe1.columbus.rr.com...

[tom]

check to make sure that all the connections are good. then check to make
sure the battery to block ground is good. then check to make sure the
battery to body ground strap is good. then check to make sure that the block
to body ground strap is good. if any one of these grounds are bad/loose
/missing, the car will not start. if all grounds and connections are good
and it still will not start, turn on the headlights, and turn the key to
start with someone standing outside the car looking at the headlights. if
they go out, the battery is weak. if the lights do not go out, than you
most likely have a bad "new" starter
"Terry" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:T_ydndO-KP-6wVHcRVn-sQ@provide.net...

[Guest]

Just thought I'd pass along an update. I have to do my work when wife,
weather, work and kids permit, so I'm not always prompt. I went ahead and
replaced the battery cables and some of the ground straps (because they were
easy AND needed replaced anyway). Still no go. I'm going to drop the
starter and see if it's hung up on the flywheel. I don't think it is, but
with the shimming and whatnot, its something worth checking.

I'll start in on the rest of the suggestions this afternoon or tomorrow.

BTW, I'm sure the battery cables helped the overall problems.....the dash
lights are a LOT brighter now.

So, as of now, I have:

1 new battery
1 new starter (fully bench tested...under load. Old starter was toast)
2 new battery cables
3 new ground straps (engine to chassis)

Next up:

Check wires and connections between from ignition to starter
Check ignition switch
drop the starter and see if it spins free (not against the flywheel)

I'm hoping to get at it tonight...I miss play (er...."working" as I tell the
wife).

Thanks for all the help. I'm always open to more and will update as all my
interruptions permit.

Scott

[Guest]

I don't quite remember the details of
your problem, but are you sure that
the timing gear didn't break?
The Pontiac engines from those
years came with a fiber covered
alum gear....I had to replace every
one I owned. Just a thought....

Dan
Milw

[Guest]

Sorry about that. I should have included some of the details about the
problem.

First, I bought the car about four months back and it was running fine. It
did have a habit about every third or forth time of giving me the "click,
click" when I turned the key. After sitting in the driveway about a
week...the "click" became permanent. I posted a question here to get
suggestions on where to look and try. Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. The battery is brand new and I took it back in and had it checked just
in case...it's good.
2. The starter was about gone...I took it in and had it bench tested. I
replaced it with a new one (that I had tested before installing it).
3. The battery cables weren't in the best shape and some of the grounding
straps were broken....I replaced all of them.

I'm going to start through the rest of the ignition system as time permits.
I had forgotten that the car had all the covers under the dash...makes it
look clean, but a WHOLE lot harder to get at anything under there. My
Catalina didn't have all of that.

In any case, things are progressing and it is very nice to get my hands
dirty again. It's also great that I now have a 6 year old gear head who
loves to go out with me (and slow progress...lol). Looks like he's going to
be as much of a car nut as I am.

Thanks again for all the help....I'll send updates to anyone willing to
listen. Maybe one of these days, I'll get to the point where I will
actually have some useful information to pass along (like keep the kid away
from the key when your connecting the starter).

Scott