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Headlights Kill Engine

To: healeys <healeys@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Headlights Kill Engine
From: "Robert C. Atkinson" <rca53@columbia.edu>
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 08:28:24 -0400
I have an electrical problem.  Any suggestions on where to start will be 
greatly appreciated.  Here's the story:

1.  Coming home from a lousy game of golf on a beautiful late afternoon 
in the Healey (BJ8)...life is good, despite the golf.
2.   It is getting dark...on go the headlights
3.   A few miles later, a burning smell...I checked the handbrake and 
discovered it was slighltly on and attributed the smell to over heated 
brakes.  But brakes working fine so I carried on.
4.   A few miles later, the overdrive mysteriously cutsout when I 
decelerate and comes back on with acceleration.  I turn off OD then turn 
it back on and no further OD problem.
5.   Engine dies at stop signal.  No starter, no nothing.
6.   Get a push (uphill) to shoulder, take a look under hood...nothing 
obvious
7.   Call AAA, discover membership lapsed because I moved...pay $144 to 
re-enlist
8.    Waiting for tow truck, try the ignition again and get a "click"...
9.    Local policeman halts traffic so I can coast backward into 
adjacent parking lot
10.  Coasting into lot, which has long downward slope, I turned on 
ignition, selected reverse and popped the clutch...engine fires and runs 
great.
11.  Get ready to call AAA to cancel tow...turn on headlights, engine dies.
12.  Repeat steps 10, 11 a few times...same result (can't start engine 
with key...there seems to be battery but starter won't turnover)
13.  Tow truck arrives...

Where to start?

Thanks

Bob Atkinson

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