MTFCA Forum

Hello, After backing out my TT to do some spring maintenance I went to start it up to take a ride. It started and stalled, when I went to start it again I had nothing. No coils buzzing, starter didnt spin engage.....I have 6volt power to it all but it all is dead. I even tried to put a jumper form the batt to the starter, nothing! Ideas?

How long has it been parked? Maybe the battery only had enough charge left for one start. Try putting a charger on it for a while and see if it works. Otherwise, something has disconnected between the battery and the starter switch. I would check the terminals for corrosion.
Norm

First check and clean the battery to frame ground cable. If still no starter spin add a auxiliary ground cable from engine to frame. After that check the battery for an internal short or problem under load. You may need some new battery cables or a new battery.

Battery load tester.
No car owner should be without one.

Do you have a fuse in the main feed line? If so check it.

Although it was my "modern" car, I had the same situation about 10 years ago. No battery problems, drove the car to work, went to leave for lunch, 100% dead...nothing, Turned out one of the plates in the battery dropped and did a total short internally. A new battery did the trick..

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:52 pm

Battery load tester.
No car owner should be without one.

Recommendations on which one to get?

vping wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:35 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:52 pm

Battery load tester.
No car owner should be without one.

Recommendations on which one to get?

Mine is an old American made unit.
ebay : "6V 12V Car Battery Load Tester Voltmeter 100Amp Analyzer 5 Seconds Fast Test"

I would go with this king of analog tester over a cheaper electronic unit.

Have you checked the water in the battery? One time we were out camping and a car near us couldn't start their car. The water level in the battery cells was very low. We added water and without even charging the battery, it started.
Norm

Ground issue. Harbor Freight for a battery tester.

All good now?

I highly recommend the Harbor Freight Centec load tester. It will give you quick look at your battery condition.

Were you able to start the truck on magneto?.... Strong possibility of your cutout points stuck together and drained the battery .

schwabd1 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:02 pm

Although it was my "modern" car, I had the same situation about 10 years ago. No battery problems, drove the car to work, went to leave for lunch, 100% dead...nothing, Turned out one of the plates in the battery dropped and did a total short internally. A new battery did the trick..

You were lucky. The battery in my '82 Oldsmobile Station Wagon did the same thing and the battery exploded.

Dead short. Check your ground cable.

Had the same thing today. I was going out to fuel up for a tour stating tomorrow, hit the starter switch and killed everything. Previously we had been chasing a slow starter problem, which was cured by taking the switch apart, cleaning all the contacts and re fitting same. When the ground lead at the battery was hooked up again, slow starter problem went away. Beauty!

It turned out to be that battery ground terminal. The nut and bolt in the clamp were tight, but somehow the terminal was not tight on the battery pole.

Allan from down under.