Starting problem
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
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Starting problem
Hello,
I have a 1970 Bronco with a 68' 289 in it and I have not started it since 2008. Yea, I know...THAT is the problem!! Well, busy with work, kids, divorce...blah, blah, blah.
Anyway, When I attempted to start it, I got the dreaded "clicking". I have the battery on my jump start, and also tried jumping it from my F150, still only a click. My question, which is more likely to fail from just sitting, the starter or the relay. Unlike new vehicles, I could have probably dropped the starter in the time it took me to type this posting, but am looking for others opinions first.
Thanks for your help,
-John
I have a 1970 Bronco with a 68' 289 in it and I have not started it since 2008. Yea, I know...THAT is the problem!! Well, busy with work, kids, divorce...blah, blah, blah.
Anyway, When I attempted to start it, I got the dreaded "clicking". I have the battery on my jump start, and also tried jumping it from my F150, still only a click. My question, which is more likely to fail from just sitting, the starter or the relay. Unlike new vehicles, I could have probably dropped the starter in the time it took me to type this posting, but am looking for others opinions first.
Thanks for your help,
-John
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
"Relay chatter" means the battery is too low. Initially, the battery is strong enough to let the solenoid make, and you hear the first click. But as soon as the starter is connected, the heavy load makes the battery fall over and it lets go of the solenoid. With the starter disconnected, the battery voltage goes back up and the solenoid makes again. This happens over and over, hence the rapid chatter.
Batteries can drain to the point that they place such a heavy load on the donor electrical system (jump starter, other vehicle, etc) that the target vehicle won't turn over with the dead battery in the path.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
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Well, that is good to hear because I planned on buying a battery anyway. I did not know the low battery could do this even when being jumped, or on a jump starter. Never stop learning.....
Thanks,
-John
Thanks,
-John
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,951
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
You can take voltage readings while someone tries to start it. You cannot do any testing unless it's under load though.
For instance, if you put a meter on the battery, and hold the probes on there while someone else tries to start it, and the voltage drops very low, then yes it's the battery. If the voltage stays high on the battery, then you can look to a bad or corroded connection on one of the heavy wires down the line.
Just keep your negative probe on the neg of the battery, and move your positive probe down to the next connection if you get a good reading on the battery. Each time you move to a new point downstream, hold it on there and get someone to try and start it. When you lose the voltage when they try to crank it, then you know you are just beyond the bad connection/cable.
For instance, if you put a meter on the battery, and hold the probes on there while someone else tries to start it, and the voltage drops very low, then yes it's the battery. If the voltage stays high on the battery, then you can look to a bad or corroded connection on one of the heavy wires down the line.
Just keep your negative probe on the neg of the battery, and move your positive probe down to the next connection if you get a good reading on the battery. Each time you move to a new point downstream, hold it on there and get someone to try and start it. When you lose the voltage when they try to crank it, then you know you are just beyond the bad connection/cable.
65 f250, 67 f100, 76 f250
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Don't forget to check the mounting bracket of the solenoid. The bracket is the ground for the solenoid, I'd clean the bracket and mounting surface and put the battery on a charger and let it charge. Once charged and solenoid back on give it a try.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
most jumper cables are way too small to start anything but a lawnmower with a dead battery in the way. they're great for charging the offending battery off the live vehicle, but thats about it unless you get huge cables.
in the same way, your jump box just won't be enough to overcome a fully dead battery.
if you still have a problem with a good battery and clean connections at the battery, then you can think about chasing down the problem as described in the above posts.
in the same way, your jump box just won't be enough to overcome a fully dead battery.
if you still have a problem with a good battery and clean connections at the battery, then you can think about chasing down the problem as described in the above posts.
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