[Spridgets] Pinky Update....problem solved cable to solenoid

[Linda Grunthaner]

Problem solved, or at least one of them anyway. I dont recall who said my
solenoid might be bad but they were extremely close it was the cable. I
accidentally found the problem when I was tracing the wires from the battery
and also looked at the cable traveling from the starter pull on the dash to
the little metal rectangular box under the hood (only labeled switch in Moss
& some of my Sprite books but Solenoid in Victoria British) and saw that the
starter pull can be operated via under the hood saving me time of jumping
into the car to try and start it. When I pulled it from the cable the car
started like I had a brand new battery, when I pulled it from the dash it
barely turned over like the battery was dead. I did not know the solenoid
was that little metal box, I was thinking it was attached under the car near
the starter like big old American cars and wasnt ready to lift the car up
until I needed to pull the starter.



I looked through all 5 of my Sprite books and do not see anything regarding
the solenoid in the index but I havent finished going page per page. I
assume I will need to pull the cable from the dash and clean or replace the
cable.



BTW I had the article in the archives in mind when I pulled the cable
although I do not see Patricia who had a 59 Bugeye on the list any longer
but enjoyed her entry from 2002, read below link:

http://www.team.net/mharc/archives/html/spridgets/2002-03/msg01107.html



Also I found a battery box at NAPA it was just $9.00 fits great I will trim
it like the MOSS style that Biff mentioned. Although I do not see the metal
replacement in ether the MOSS or Victoria British catalogs, are we just
using plain old sheet metal for this?



Thanks again,

Linda


On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 6:06 AM, Linda Grunthaner
<grunthaner at gmail.com>wrote:

> Listers,
> I want to thank everyone for all the suggestions regarding my little Sprite
> fuel/battery/starter problem.
>
> Update is I finally bought a much needed large battery charger from Sears
> and the battery is only at 12.4 or 12.5 I don't recall. From reading the
> details about batteries I should be at 12.7 volts for 100% I should have
had
> a slow charger on the battery all winter and this little car has not had a
> lot of love in the last few years so it is time to give her much needed
> parts and service and that means a new battery to start with.
>
> I could ether go with another Interstate which I like but one of the
> replies suggested the gel type as I recall something about their design
> being superior. I see the gel types are about $200. and the Interstate
$100.
> now I don't use the car daily so maybe I should just stick with the
> Interstate and put on a battery tender type of charger over winter or bring
> it in the house. What are all of you doing for batteries?
>
> Also yes it might be possible I also have a starter problem ( have a spare
> good starter available thanks Frank) I will bring the battery to the
> Interstate store (sometime next week as I am still working late late nights
> with the kids) and have it tested with a load. If they say it is on the
edge
> I'll get one new battery. If I still have the same sounds like a dead
> battery or near dead battery I'm removing the starter and bench testing it.
>
>
> Does this sound like a plan?
>
> BTW My students & I have been working endless nights on their underwater
> robot the prom is tonight and the competition is tomorrow at 6:30 AM. The
> robot is not done (I hope this changes by end of day) and I am still
> hopeful. This underwater robot competition has kept me from attending
> Carlisle this year which I am bummed about so I hope they at least have it
> fully working and earn some points. I haven't told the kids it is
> interfering with my car show. Please all have a great time I hope it is a
> DRY Day and get some photos : )
>
> Linda & Pinky ; )