Did you find the engine block ground? A braided cable straddling the
driver side (US) front engine mount. If not hooked up the engine (and
alternator, starter, etc) is isolated by the rubber mounts.
After cranking, carefully touch the throttle and choke cables to see if
they feel warm. They can become a path to ground if all else fails, but
they get hot really quick.
Allen Shaffer had this to say:
>Thanks much for the suggestions...
>
>Andy was right...when I turn the key on, the panel lights come on (with the
>switch off, of course). When I crank the car, the seat belt warning comes
>on. So, I started checking for a "bad ground"... as best I understand that.
>
>The battery ground is OK, and I would think the starter wouldn't crank if it
>weren't. Under the car, and under the bonnet, all the wires seem connected
>and seated. I've tried a new coil. I've replaced points and condenser. I've
>done all the checks in the Haynes manual for spark, etc. and I do have spark
>everywhere..just (obviously) weak. I have fuel and the carb is fine.
>
>I have the feeling that I don't know where to look for this bad ground, and
>that I don't know how to check properly. I've spent the whole day looking at
>the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual and trying to make some sense of
>what to do next, but I'm not having much luck.
>
>Could these relays mounted to the inner wing be possibly bad? Could the
>starter solenoid do this, if it went bad, and still crank the car OK? Given
>the sudden nature of this failure, I was thinking that I'd find a
>severed/disconnected/burned (something!) wire, but I haven't.
>
>This is my first major problem, and I'm new to all of this although I've
>read a lot and done all the work on the car myself so far. Any suggestions
>on exactly what to do next would be deeply appreciated! ( I believe Lord
>Lucas is administering his evil form of baptism....)
>
>Allen and Marian
>'77B
>Columbus, Ohio
>
>
>
>
--
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Max Heim
mvheim@studiolimage.com
Studio L'Image/San Francisco
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