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RE: [TR] Starter won't go

To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: [TR] Starter won't go
From: "Randall" <tr3driver@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:15:21 -0800
> The reason I  though my battery was dead
> this morning because when I turned the  headlight switch on,
> nothing happened, so it was likely for the same  reason.

So to summarize, you are intermittently getting no power to a) Ignition, b)
Headlights, c) Starter.  Assuming it is a single problem, you should look at
things that are common to those 3 circuits.

>   So, what are the possible problems here? Bad solenoid? Solenoid
> not  grounded properly?

Those things would not affect the ignition or headlights, although a bad
connection at the solenoid might.

> Short circuit somewhere? Starter issue?
> What's the  best order of action?

I would start by disassembling all the major connections between the battery
and the car, on both sides.  Make sure the mating surfaces are clean and
bright, then reassemble tightly.   Be particularly suspicious if you have
the repair battery clamps that clamp onto the wire ... if so, my suggestion
would be to just replace them.

The symptoms you describe sound a great deal like corrosion between one of
the battery clamps and it's mating post, but could also be a problem inside
the cable, or where it is attached to the rest of the car.  I've also had
similar symptoms with a bad battery, one where one of the conductors was
broken inside the case.  (Probably caused by yours truly being too rough
with a post, they weren't very well supported.)

Also, I didn't understand quite how you "boosted".  If you connected
adequately sized jumper cables to another, fully charged battery and it
didn't make any difference, then the problem is probably not between the
battery clamps and the GT6 battery (or inside the battery).  But if you just
hooked up a battery charger and left it for a bit, it does not eliminate the
possibility of a bad connection either at the clamps or inside the battery.

If none of that helps, then get out there with a voltmeter or DMM and start
searching for where the voltage "goes away".  Turn the headlights on, then
check right on top of the battery posts.  If there isn't at least 12v there,
the battery is either bad or discharged.  Next I'd probably jump to checking
between the hot terminal on the starter solenoid (assuming that's where the
battery hot lead on a GT6 connects to the rest of the car) and the engine
block.  If you still have 12v but the headlights don't work, you are
probably looking at multiple problems.

Randall


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