1970 Camaro 396 - wouldn’t crank (starter showing only 7volts)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 04-18-2021, 07:45 PM
Y2Keglide's Avatar
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Yacolt,WA
Posts: 2,228
Default

Originally Posted by Everett#2390
RockAuto.com, Carparts.com, Napa.com,
And https://www.camarocentral.com/
https://www.rickscamaros.com/?gclsrc...AaAtI9EALw_wcB
 
  #12  
Old 04-19-2021, 05:42 AM
Everett#2390's Avatar
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Va. Beach, VA
Posts: 2,595
Default

Good suggestions, Y2K
 
  #13  
Old 04-19-2021, 11:17 AM
JohnnyZee78's Avatar
In the Staging Lanes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Default

Thank you very much :-)
 
  #14  
Old 04-21-2021, 12:06 PM
JohnnyZee78's Avatar
In the Staging Lanes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Default

Hi guys ! Thanks for all the great advice above.

Issue still not sorted :-(

I got the starter rebuilt. Was excited, hoping it will surely crank. Nothing :-(

the dash is showing light (also the red “brake” light is appearing when I turn the ignition on). The head lights are almost gone and parking lights are very dim too. The battery was NEW ! One day old. Have put in two new batteries :-( in four days.

Could it be that the starter has drained the batteries down ? Could it be something else other than the starter ? Alternator ? Well the starter had been making those slipping sounds anyway, so it was going. Also remember the starter terminal was showing 7 volts while battery showing 12 volts.

Don’t know how to sort this out. Where to take the car. It is not starting and hence have to Wench it :-( (added cost too).

I turned the engine from the front and it turned. So hopefully the engine is not seized. Also the radiator coolant is clean. So is the oil.

please help. !!!!!

 
  #15  
Old 04-21-2021, 08:08 PM
Y2Keglide's Avatar
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Yacolt,WA
Posts: 2,228
Default

Will it crank with a jump? Do you have a battery charger? I'd put a charger on it overnight and see if it'll crank with a full charge.
Hard to believe you'd get two bad new batteries but stranger things have happened.
Wondering if the alternator and or starter are wired correctly,something must be draining the battery.
 
  #16  
Old 04-21-2021, 08:30 PM
JohnnyZee78's Avatar
In the Staging Lanes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Default

I tried to jump yes (initially when it brown down). Didn’t make a difference. Yes, it does seem something is draining down the battery. But this quick !? And badly ? This is very strange. Definitely seems like a wiring issue (hopefully nothing too major or more than that).

I went and bought a battery charger yesterday from Halfords (£120) and a good multimeter. Now reading the instructions to use it safely :-)

Will eventually have it wenched to my friend’s, friend’s garage. He reportedly knows his American car stuff.

It hurts when you see your car being wenched. It also becomes a money pit because you are spending money in fixing something which you don’t even know if is wrong. :-(

Anyway. Let’s see what happens.

I will try to charge the battery and see if it starts. Even then o may not be able to drove it to the mechanic because it may die down on the road again?
 
  #17  
Old 04-21-2021, 08:33 PM
JohnnyZee78's Avatar
In the Staging Lanes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Default

Originally Posted by Everett#2390
Also may be lack of enough current between battery and starter. Both battery cables should be a minimum of 2 AWG size.
Cable do have resistance within itself and it does absorb DC current.
You look for 1/0 cables, as larger wire size, less power absorbed, more power for accessory.
thanks

can you please be more specific on this so I could specify to the guys to check the cables within these parameters ?

how should I explain the cables to the electrician ? Or which cables should I get online ? My terminal clamps are also looking bad and greeted out. But the are passing current. The dash light and horn and wiper works.
 
  #18  
Old 04-21-2021, 08:42 PM
Camaro 69's Avatar
Senior Moderator
January 2010 ROTM Winner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Default

If I read you correctly, you're saying you have 12 volts at the positive battery terminal, but only 7 volts at the end of this cable where it attaches to the starter? If so, your battery cable is bad, without question. Replace it.
 
  #19  
Old 04-21-2021, 09:42 PM
JohnnyZee78's Avatar
In the Staging Lanes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Default

Originally Posted by Camaro 69
If I read you correctly, you're saying you have 12 volts at the positive battery terminal, but only 7 volts at the end of this cable where it attaches to the starter? If so, your battery cable is bad, without question. Replace it.
Thanks, thats where I will start tomorrow. Will also charge the batteries.

Thanks again. Will keep you all posted and may come back with further questions (hopefully not :-) ).
 
  #20  
Old 04-23-2021, 09:49 PM
Gorn's Avatar
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
ROTM Winner's Club
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,465
Default

After reading the posts I am not clear on which wire to the starter is seeing the voltage drop. Its normal to see a voltage drop in the cable while the the starter is trying to start the car. Not at the level you are seeing but some drop is normal.
You can jump the trigger wire to the battery cable with a remote start switch. They should be available at any parts store. The starter if the battery cable age or size is the issue you should still hear a click and the solenoid tries to work. To test a cable for size or age issues you want to do a voltage drop test. I would suggest searching youtube for using a remote starter and checking battery cables with a voltage drop test.

A couple of quick thoughts. Normally a bad cable will cause issues when the car is hot but work when cold. If you rarely drive the car the failure could be as described but normally the complaint come in that the car will not restart after running. Bad grounds can do anything positive cables can do. If the engine ground is bad it can it will show up in a straight voltage test. A voltage drop test should let you check one thing at a time. If the starter is drawing way too much power it can act just like a bad cable. To be 100% sure what is going on you need to be able to check the amps being drawn while it tries to start.
 


Quick Reply: 1970 Camaro 396 - wouldn’t crank (starter showing only 7volts)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:15 PM.