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Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:06 pm

I've been slowly bringing a 69 back to life, rebuilt the engine last fall and the motor runs great, tried to start it the other day though and I'm losing voltage somewhere and have traced things down and haven't found the problem yet.

When I turn the key on sometimes I get good illumination on the Gen and Oil indicators, and sometimes it's dim. When I it lights up good though, as soon as I turn the key to start it I lose the lights altogether. I have voltage at the fuse block, I have voltage for the bendix wire coming off the switch, and I'm getting voltage at the bendix itself. I thought it was the starter, then I thought it was the bendix wire, but the indicator lights dim or don't dim regardless of whether I hit it all the way to start or not. I ran jumper cables to the starter and got the bus to start that way, but other than running a separate starter button I'm at a loss for ideas.

Any help would be appreciated

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:48 pm

I'd check the ground cable to body connection and clean it real well for the dim lights.

I have also seen a ground strap on the transaxle that looks good but isnt cause starting problems, but not a dim light if not cranking it over.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:58 pm

Welcome. I'd look at the battery terminals first, then the grounds. Have you kept the volt meter on the fusebox, etc.. and watched it while you attempt to crank?

Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:54 am

Okay, I'm an idiot. I guess I had my denial goggles on cause I kept telling myself that it couldn't be the battery wires cause I had just cleaned them up (last summer). Lo and behold, the hot wire was corroded. A little trimming and a little sanding and viola.

Thanks so much guys, I'll try to remember to look at the simple things first.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:22 pm

Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again, when checking a problem, always start at the cheapest part. When it involves electrical, do the both battery post thing. I take the ground off first, then remove the positive, clean and reattach it, then clean and reattach the ground last.