The Ford Barn

twilder · 02-23-2013, 05:01 PM

'30 Coupe. New wiring, altenator, amp meter, coil and battery. Drove perfectly just a couple months ago, now not getting anything electrical! Safety fuse good. Horn and lights work every now and then. Won't crank at all! Starter doesn't even engage. I'm at my wits end. Could bad points be the culprit? Acts as if no electrical power at all.

Tiny · 02-23-2013, 05:03 PM

Bad ground? I think 98% of the electrical problems I've had over the years have been bad grounds.

fordfixer · 02-23-2013, 05:08 PM

The first thing is to check the battery. Cables and all connections. Do you have 6.3 volts or more on the battery? Do we have 6.3 volts at the starter cable on the switch? Are the cells full of water? Did we do a hydrometer test. Batterys can have 6 volts and still not be good. Check these things first, then if thats okay, follow the flow of electricity though out the rest of the circuit. Disconnect the fuse block for test purposes. They are known to not be the best made items. Vibrations causes loose contact and all sort of things seem to be wrong.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 02-23-2013, 05:10 PM

You need to get a volt meter and a wireing schematic( like on page 92 in Brattons catalog), and start with battery voltage, and go from there. Are you battery connections clean(post & clamp?) is your ground cable the same, some times old cables have hard to see corrosion, that would act the way you describe. Chuck

twilder · 02-23-2013, 05:39 PM

Thanks guys for your suggestions. I may replace my battery disconnect switch and see how it goes from there. All your other suggestions all check out ok.

Bob C · 02-23-2013, 06:18 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If you want to eliminate the disconnect just hook both wires to one stud and test.

Bob

twilder · 02-23-2013, 07:00 PM

Thks Bob, I will try that. I only thought about changing it because it's a cheaper plastic version and it feels as though it may be broken inside. That may be my mystery electrical problem

Chuck Sea/Tac · 02-23-2013, 08:10 PM

I'm bettin that it!!

Chuck Sea/Tac · 02-23-2013, 08:14 PM

Please let us know what you find.

steve s · 02-23-2013, 09:40 PM

For sure, it's not the points.

MVal · 02-23-2013, 10:29 PM

Regarding the battery cutoff switch, there was an article in the February 2013 Skinned Knuckles magazine about that exact problem. The cutoff is the one that mounts on a battery terminal and has a green plastic handle. Evidently there was a poor contact causing heat to impact how the bolt contacted the parts. The author had to make some changes to the bolt to make it work again so don't assume this part is foolproof.

twilder · 03-22-2013, 05:35 PM

An update guys. I replaced the battery disconnect switch, put new battery cables on and cleaned the crossmember where ground strap goes. Put new bolt on ground strap. Fired right up! Thanks for all your help!

dragger 292 · 03-22-2013, 06:07 PM

Check the gounds in the car.

Joe K · 03-22-2013, 09:34 PM

I think you should check the grounds on the car.

Was this said already?

Joe K

1931 flamingo · 03-23-2013, 07:49 AM

POST # 12 SAYS IT'S FIXED ! ! ! !

Paul in CT

02-23-2013, 05:01 PM	#1
twilder Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 62	Electrical Driving me crazy!! '30 Coupe. New wiring, altenator, amp meter, coil and battery. Drove perfectly just a couple months ago, now not getting anything electrical! Safety fuse good. Horn and lights work every now and then. Won't crank at all! Starter doesn't even engage. I'm at my wits end. Could bad points be the culprit? Acts as if no electrical power at all.

02-23-2013, 05:03 PM	#2
Tiny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding Cal Posts: 1,388	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Bad ground? I think 98% of the electrical problems I've had over the years have been bad grounds.

02-23-2013, 05:08 PM	#3
fordfixer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Crete, Illinois Posts: 306	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! The first thing is to check the battery. Cables and all connections. Do you have 6.3 volts or more on the battery? Do we have 6.3 volts at the starter cable on the switch? Are the cells full of water? Did we do a hydrometer test. Batterys can have 6 volts and still not be good. Check these things first, then if thats okay, follow the flow of electricity though out the rest of the circuit. Disconnect the fuse block for test purposes. They are known to not be the best made items. Vibrations causes loose contact and all sort of things seem to be wrong.

02-23-2013, 05:10 PM	#4
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,411	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! You need to get a volt meter and a wireing schematic( like on page 92 in Brattons catalog), and start with battery voltage, and go from there. Are you battery connections clean(post & clamp?) is your ground cable the same, some times old cables have hard to see corrosion, that would act the way you describe. Chuck

02-23-2013, 05:39 PM	#5
twilder Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 62	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Thanks guys for your suggestions. I may replace my battery disconnect switch and see how it goes from there. All your other suggestions all check out ok.

02-23-2013, 06:18 PM	#6
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,360	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you want to eliminate the disconnect just hook both wires to one stud and test. Bob

02-23-2013, 07:00 PM	#7
twilder Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 62	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Thks Bob, I will try that. I only thought about changing it because it's a cheaper plastic version and it feels as though it may be broken inside. That may be my mystery electrical problem

02-23-2013, 08:10 PM	#8
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,411	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! I'm bettin that it!!

02-23-2013, 08:14 PM	#9
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,411	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Please let us know what you find.

02-23-2013, 09:40 PM	#10
steve s Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 1,656	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! For sure, it's not the points.

02-23-2013, 10:29 PM	#11
MVal Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 76	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Regarding the battery cutoff switch, there was an article in the February 2013 Skinned Knuckles magazine about that exact problem. The cutoff is the one that mounts on a battery terminal and has a green plastic handle. Evidently there was a poor contact causing heat to impact how the bolt contacted the parts. The author had to make some changes to the bolt to make it work again so don't assume this part is foolproof.

03-22-2013, 05:35 PM	#12
twilder Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 62	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! An update guys. I replaced the battery disconnect switch, put new battery cables on and cleaned the crossmember where ground strap goes. Put new bolt on ground strap. Fired right up! Thanks for all your help!

03-22-2013, 06:07 PM	#13
dragger 292 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 6	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! Check the gounds in the car.

03-22-2013, 09:34 PM	#14
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,610	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! I think you should check the grounds on the car. Was this said already? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-23-2013, 07:49 AM	#15
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Electrical Driving me crazy!! POST # 12 SAYS IT'S FIXED ! ! ! ! Paul in CT