[Tigers] Tigers Digest, Vol 3, Issue 387

[Mountjoy]

Good rant, Jerry !!

Semantics can be so frustrating.  Accurate descriptions save so much wasted 
time & energy chasing in the wrong directions.

Darrell
(Guess it's my Speech Pathologist background kicking in.)



Message: 9
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:51:12 -0500
From: "Jerry & Maureen \(Mo\)" <JCMC2006 at suddenlink.net>
Subject: [Tigers] Does it CRANK?
To: <TIGERS at AUTOX.TEAM.NET>
Message-ID: <A9C5B1070004428F9539D5FE2C285CAD at jerry>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

List,



I always find it interesting when people describe a condition of their
engines not starting - like "It just won't crank," or "It just won't start."
More specific info is needed tofo to make a proper analysis. To some, the
phrase "It just won't crank" means that the starter just isn't turning the
engine over (to me the proper definition).  To others, the same term means
that it is turning over properly, but it is not firing.  Well, there is a
big difference in the way one troubleshoots these two conditions.

On the one hand, if the starter spins the engine over freely that will
usually eliminate any problem with the POWER of the battery, as it consumes
considerably more power (amps) than the ignition system does.  So, if there
is any problem with the engine turning over very slowly, or not at all, then
the problem is generally in the starting circuit or battery. On the other
hand, if the engine turns over with ease then the problem is somewhere in
the ignition, timing, carburetor areas.



I have heard many times about starters not working when hot (Chevys, for
instance), and I must say I really don't understand why just getting hot
renders them inoperative.  The starters are exposed to the exhaust pipe on
most cars; and, granted, there is a lot of heat there.  But you also have a
big heat sink - the block - the starter is attached to.  I have a very good
generator/alternator shop in my city.  I plan to go visit them and see if
they can enlighten me.



Sorry for the long rant.



Jerry Christopherson

9471387



16 more days to the "Big Texas TAC Session!!"


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