[Half-Inch Stud]

The problem was a slightly discharged Battery, yet interesting. So you don't need to put on your thinking caps.

Got in, Door left open, pressed pedal for accel gas, turn key and no Starter action. Dome light stayed on with key turn.
Put headlights on and they seem bright. Turned key and headlights dim only a little, rather bright.

Go to jiggling Shifter & neutral Safety with key in Start. No joy. Pondered and looked at Starter wires going through Round Port Exhaust Manifold 5-7; rather tight!

Put on a Jump Batt and wait a minute to think: Turn key and got an energized Solenoid but turnover not good enough. Waited a few more minutes and the engine starts, runs like normal.

Therefore, the battery was discharged JUST-ENOUGH to run headlamps decently, and jiuce the solenoid, yet without the solenoid slapping the Starter Motor switch.

Think it is an old/used GM Hi-Temp Solenoid with a longk Spring.

[dataway]

I say crawl under there and freshen up those starter connections

So far I'm loving my new IMS mini starter, never had one before, seems to work great.

[grandam1979]

Check it with a volt meter and you will have your answer.

[grandam1979]

You will have to wait now if it was just on a charger it will have a surface charge on it. It's always best that check it before charging.

[mgarblik]

If you had no click at all initially, give the purple "s" wire some careful inspection. If you had a click but no starter turn, very possible the contact disc inside the solenoid needs some love. I would remove it, clean it up and turn it over. Do these tests with a known good battery of course.

[Stuart]

Disconnect and clean all battery cable connections inside and out. You can get enough corrosion that will prevent starting without a jump, even if it's not visible.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

If you had no click at all initially, give the purple "s" wire some careful inspection. If you had a click but no starter turn, very possible the contact disc inside the solenoid needs some love. I would remove it, clean it up and turn it over. Do these tests with a known good battery of course.

THIS^^^^. That darned purple S wire will get you every time. If it's original, anyways.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Batt in trunk, no corrosions up to engine. Been charging all night so might monitor with Volt meter today.

Had the purple wire problem in the early 80s. Post purpose was to rule-out the purple wire. Time will tell.

[ID67goat]

Ignition switch?

[Half-Inch Stud]

trickle charged all night and started right up today. So seems the Solenoid lacks motion at a a low Batt discharge level.

Might just put a different Solenoid in....someday.

[ramairthreegto]

I have shielded my cable, went to a mini starter,
Which helped with hot starts,
I unhook the negative when parked-
But still go through batteries faster than you would with a daily driver.

My latest non start issue was a rotor.

I have gone from 5 vintage tagged, insured, drivable vehicles to 3.
I’m still working 3 days a week and it’s just a lot of upkeep.
There is always a starter, a wiper motor, a fluid pump, gauge, etc. issue to address non stop.

Don’t get me wrong, if I won the billion dollar mega bucks or something and had my own track, strip, staffed garage, etc. I would have a lot more cars and play with one a couple of hours each day.

I just tire of so much time going to maintenance just for the toy rides.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Yea, since moving to AL ( again), the GTO was ignored so the Ball drained due to the stereo. I plan to use theSolar panels to trickle charge the GTO and a Towncar while thet sits. Might trickle charge both Towncars.

I figure on a ganged Banana plug below the grill.

We are in rural living and i see my GTO as a future barn-find someday. Parked in a barn!
I have a plan to lay nitted uhaul blankets on the GTO and use drawn strings to pull them up before a driveout.

[GT182]

Yeah, I also unhook the cable, but I unhook the Positive side. It's a pain to reset my Kenwood radio, but at least I get no battery drain.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Rural living has lowered the GTO usage, and the nice Towncar usage. Solution is Solar trickle-charge.

[GT182]

Solar trickle-charge is ok if the car is outside. Not so well inside like mine is kept as per my insurance company requires.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by GT182

Solar trickle-charge is ok if the car is outside. Not so well inside like mine is kept as per my insurance company requires.

Comment not applicable.

Large solar panels on garage roof with regulator to Lead-acid batteries. Cigatette lighter interface in front Valence allows connection to the car batt.

[Tom Vaught]

Neighbor next door has TWELVE 3 foot by 4 foot solar grids on his roof.
A pal of his did the install. Very nice looking. Due East Facing and no trees around.

Because his pal was experimenting, he got the grids really cheap and they are no cheap grids. Took one day to install. Not able to back feed to city power but does allow several outside decoration lights, running his $$$$ Wall TV and his fridge.

We get a lot of sun the last few years, weather patterns have really changed.

So HIS how many batteries are you charging???

Tom V.

[Half-Inch Stud]

My 4 panels are 123W each, made in Japan, used for $35 each and they face South, to charge 4 wet Lead acid Batteries, to drive one 24V 3500W inverter for 110AC