Randall Young wrote:
> Are the battery connections clean & tight ? I'd R&R them, just
> to be sure.
> What about where the ground strap attaches to the body ? Paint does not
> conduct, there needs to be bare metal under the strap.
It had the sorriest pair of battery terminals I've ever seen, one cracked &
loose enough to turn by hand. I've replaced them now with new ones. My car
was converted to negative ground somewhere along the way, & the neg wire was
connected to the valve cover. Does it matter which body bolt I switch it to?
I see from my original TR book that it should be connected near the top of
the firewall? Also, the Moss catalog lists an engine ground strap. I can't
find one, and I'm thinking that this could be part of my problem: with the
ground going to the valve cover, could I be lacking a ground to the body?
Where does the engine ground strap usually connect?
>
> Take a test lamp with you, start at directly across the battery posts. If
> there's no juice there, your battery is dead (broken internally perhaps).
I got a light across the posts.
> Next try between the engine block and the upper post on the starter
> solenoid. If you find power there, try turning on the headlights
> and check
> again.
I tried this and there was current, but only when I held it to the bolt
coming out of the solenoid. There was no current on the nut, which I thought
was strange. I was able to crank with the button the solenoid, but it didn't
start. So, I tried the choke, and it still didn't start. I pushed off the
choke (it was sitting in the sun & about 85F) & then noticed that all of the
gauges were back & the ignition light was on. Cranked it again & it started
right up.
I drove it home, replaced the battery terminals & it seemed that all was
well. THen I stalled it with the lights on & I was back to nothing again. I
checked the battery again & then the solenoid & then noticed that the
ignition light was back on. Seems like a ground problem?
Thanks for all your help. I was glad to get it home to the garage under my
own power.
Joe Lynn
59 TR3A
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