<VV> Strange Electrical Problem

[Jim Houston]

New battery, new wires, new (clean) terminals...

Jim Houston

Harry Yarnell wrote:
> Sounds like battery terminals to me...
>
> harry yarnell
> perryman garage and orphanage
> hyarnell1 at earthlink.net
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Houston" <tampatexan at gmail.com>
> To: "Virtual Vairs (E-mail)" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 10:29 AM
> Subject: <VV> Strange Electrical Problem
>
>
>> For the last couple of months, when I start my '65 Monza (110/4spd), 
>> SOMETIMES nothing happens when I turn the key.  A few tries, and then 
>> it would start and all would be well.  Last week, I had left the car 
>> at my daughters house for the weekend and when I left to go home, I 
>> started it and at the first corner, it died.  Attempted restart -- 
>> nothing... no amount of trying would make it start.  The radio had no 
>> power, nor did the electric gauges (including a voltmeter).   I 
>> pushed it back to her house and checked the infamous "Red Wire 
>> Connection" and it appears fine - no burning, no corrosion, both 
>> sides of the plug look fine.  Still nothing. It was getting late, so 
>> I called it a day and took her Honda home.  I did NOT check the 
>> headlights at that time.  I went out yesterday to give it another 
>> try.  First thing, I checked the headlights and they came on.  I 
>> concluded the problem was in the ignition switch.  Tried the 
>> ignition/start "one more time" and it started.  Shut it off, and then 
>> nothing.  Also, no headlights this time!!  I was laying under the 
>> dash attempting to replace the ignition switch, and the courtesy 
>> lights came on all of a sudden....  surprise!  Tried the start (with 
>> the switch hanging below the dash) and it started!  Took it home - 12 
>> miles - (with a Honda following me, just in case) and had no 
>> problem.  When arrived home, tried start a couple of times, and all 
>> was fine.  My question is :  should I perform the "bypass surgery" 
>> even though the connection appears okay? Could it be doing weird 
>> things?  Or, could it be the CB that is installed between the battery 
>> and the 3way connector on the frame rail?  Any help or suggestions 
>> would be appreciated as I'm a bit leery of taking any trips until I 
>> find and fix the problem (I hate it when things "fix" themselves!).
>> Jim Houston
>> Tampa, FL
>> _______________________________________________
>> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
>> copyrights are the property
>> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
>> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
>> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
>> http://www.corvair.org/
>> Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>> Change your options: 
>> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs 
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>
>