Help needed. No start after I...

[Scottjeffrey]

2 minutes ago, tech71 said:

The nefarious "Bad Grounding Gremlins" strike again.

You see? this is why I always check grounds first?

You the Man! I am relieved, humbled and a bit more learned. Thanks again.

Scott

[TobyB]

Heh.  

 

None of us have EVER done that.

 

Nope.

 

I got a nasty burn from my choke  cable once-

I'd had something apart, and not tightened the 

body- to- engine ground strap.  Often it started fine, 

and usually the gauges were stable, but every so often

it would crank hard and the gauges would move.

 

Once, when it did it, I popped open the hood and grabbed

the choke cable to get it out of the way...  and discovered

it was probably glowing a few seconds earlier.

 

Something to remember from this, though, and it helps

with all electrical troubleshooting- meter your circuit as the current flows.

It's especially true for cars, where the chassis is 'usually' ground:

It's easy to grab a battery lug as a clean ground, but for, say, a starter

that's not working, ground to the block.  Hell, ground to the starter,

as a friend had one loosen, and that gave him an occasional no- start.

Whack it with a hammer and it worked, so we only discovered it was

loose (and a bit rusted at the surface) when we went to take it off to replace.

 

I now will wire a voltmeter across the offending suspect, put it in the cabin,

and watch the meter while I'm trying to recreate the problem.  It helps a LOT.

 

Glad you found it,

 

t

 

[Scottjeffrey]

7 minutes ago, TobyB said:

Heh.  

 

None of us have EVER done that.

 

Nope.

 

I got a nasty burn from my choke  cable once-

I'd had something apart, and not tightened the 

body- to- engine ground strap.  Often it started fine, 

and usually the gauges were stable, but every so often

it would crank hard and the gauges would move.

 

Once, when it did it, I popped open the hood and grabbed

the choke cable to get it out of the way...  and discovered

it was probably glowing a few seconds earlier.

 

Something to remember from this, though, and it helps

with all electrical troubleshooting- meter your circuit as the current flows.

It's especially true for cars, where the chassis is 'usually' ground:

It's easy to grab a battery lug as a clean ground, but for, say, a starter

that's not working, ground to the block.  Hell, ground to the starter,

as a friend had one loosen, and that gave him an occasional no- start.

Whack it with a hammer and it worked, so we only discovered it was

loose (and a bit rusted at the surface) when we went to take it off to replace.

 

I now will wire a voltmeter across the offending suspect, put it in the cabin,

and watch the meter while I'm trying to recreate the problem.  It helps a LOT.

 

Glad you found it,

 

t

 

Thank you so much, Toby. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help and knowledge. 

Best Regards,

Scott