1967 won't start... chattering sound when trying

[matt888]

She sat in the garage the past few months, but the battery is good (checked the voltage with meter) and the interior lights come on. When I turn the ignition key, I get a rapid clicking sound. Is this the starter or solenoid on the inside of the fender?

Thanks!

Matt

 

[ForceFed70]

She sat in the garage the past few months, but the battery is good (checked the voltage with meter) and the interior lights come on. When I turn the ignition key, I get a rapid clicking sound. Is this the starter or solenoid on the inside of the fender?

Thanks!

Matt

That noise you are hearing is the starter solenoid fluttering. It's an indicator of poor power to the starter/solenoid. I'd guess that your battery is bad or needs charging. Also check your battery connections and battery cables.

 

[Big_B]

What he said. Don't just check it at the battery, check it at the solenoid and starter if you can. I have noticed on mine that when it sits for a long time the corrosion builds up between the battery terminals and the cables.

 

[truck90278]

Clean your battery terminals first. using a voltmeter is not enough, although you might get 12 volts, that doesn't mean the battery can provide the AMPs needed to crank the engine. Probably need to stick the battery on a charger for a few hours.

 

[Soaring1]

In addition to cleaning the connections, check to see if the cable is getting 12 volts at the point where it hooks up to the solenoid. If it does have 13 something volts there, then your solenoid itself is toast.

 

[matt888]

In addition to cleaning the connections, check to see if the cable is getting 12 volts at the point where it hooks up to the solenoid. If it does have 13 something volts there, then your solenoid itself is toast.

Check it where on the solenoid? It should indicate 12V where it connects to the battery regardless of whether or not the solenoid is bad right?

Now I checked the starter lead side of the solenoid and there's no voltage. Is this correct when the car is off? Does the ignition switch trip the solenoid, and then supply power to the starter?

I'll get a trickle charger tomorrow and give that a go for a few hours. Probably not a bad idea to have one anyways with a classic in the garage long term. Surprised I haven't needed one for it in the past 5 years...

Matt

 

[whatagearhead]

The battery may show 12V but under load it doesn't have the "Cranking Amps" to get the job done. Charge your battery overnight. If it persists get it checked out.

 

[ForceFed70]

Now I checked the starter lead side of the solenoid and there's no voltage. Is this correct when the car is off? Does the ignition switch trip the solenoid, and then supply power to the starter?

I'll get a trickle charger tomorrow and give that a go for a few hours. Probably not a bad idea to have one anyways with a classic in the garage long term. Surprised I haven't needed one for it in the past 5 years...

Matt

You've got the solenoid operation correct. It's just a big relay.
Don't bother checking the cable/connections from the solenoid to the starter, you would not get these symptoms if that connection was bad.

If it's a trickle charger, 5 hours probably isn't going to be long enough... you should charge it for 24hrs or longer. If I was you, I'd buy an inexpensive charger that has a switch so that you can switch between 2amp (trickle) and 6amp or higher for normal charging. I think I paid $50 for mine and it even includes a 50amp "start" setting.

 

[Soaring1]

You've got the solenoid operation correct. It's just a big relay.
Don't bother checking the cable/connections from the solenoid to the starter, you would not get these symptoms if that connection was bad.

If it's a trickle charger, 5 hours probably isn't going to be long enough... you should charge it for 24hrs or longer. If I was you, I'd buy an inexpensive charger that has a switch so that you can switch between 2amp (trickle) and 6amp or higher for normal charging. I think I paid $50 for mine and it even includes a 50amp "start" setting.

Yeah, those trickle chargers designed to be hooked up for long time storage vehicles are basically useless when you need to have a battery charged now. They are also very expensive. I would just get a charger from Wal-Mart that has at least two stages. 2 amp and 6 amp, but with a shut off when the battery gets full. Let that 2 amp setting charge for a couple of days so you get a deep charge then try it.

 

[matt888]

Thanks everyone for your inputs! I charged the battery all day and she started like a champ!

 

[Soaring1]

Thanks everyone for your inputs! I charged the battery all day and she started like a champ!

I like it when a project comes together.