<VV> Strange Electrical Problem

[Frank DuVal]

First, did you clean the battery posts and cable ends?

Frank DuVal

Jim Houston wrote:

> 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
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