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Old 06-30-2019, 11:35 AM   #1
Bunky1267
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Question Intermittent starting

My brother has a 1974 Nova 406, turbo 350 transmission. He's been having issues when trying to start the engine, it just clicks like the solenoid is kicking in but the starter won't spin. After a couple of clicks it starts up. He has changed the starter 3 times, all new finally went to the small mini starter, no luck. Changed the ignition switch and it worked good for a couple of days then back to the clicking issue. He has also has a new battery, changed the ends. Cleaned and moved the ground wire from the block to the alternator bracket like stock.

Anyone have any suggestions?
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Old 06-30-2019, 02:11 PM   #2
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Re: Intermittent starting

When this occurs you need to check for 12v on the solenoid pink wire from the ign switch when cranking. Post back results, also see if the headliites dim when this happens
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Old 07-01-2019, 08:17 AM   #3
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Re: Intermittent starting

Headlights only dim a little bit when clicking ,
Only 7.81 to the starter small post. 12.45 volts to big post
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Old 07-01-2019, 12:37 PM   #4
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Re: Intermittent starting

Ok so today we changed the battery and both battery cables and issue if we jump across the solenoid it works

This car has the seatbelt override still hooked up is there something with this that can cause this ?
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Old 07-01-2019, 07:16 PM   #5
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Re: Intermittent starting

'74 - '75 was a ponts or HEI transition time. Just wondering if yours is points and has a firewall resistor that maybe an issue??
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Old 07-01-2019, 07:19 PM   #6
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Re: Intermittent starting

it's a HEI unit.

I think we might have a ground issue. We're going to check that next.
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Old 08-10-2019, 01:45 AM   #7
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Re: Intermittent starting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunky1267 View Post
Headlights only dim a little bit when clicking ,
Only 7.81 to the starter small post. 12.45 volts to big post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunky1267 View Post
if we jump across the solenoid it works
Time to fix the high-resistance in the "S" terminal wire circuit between ignition switch and the starter solenoid.

This could be a problem with the contacts in the ignition switch, or the contacts in the neutral safety switch. It could be a problem with connections anywhere in the power supply to the ignition switch, or from ign. switch to "S" terminal. It could also be a heavily-corroded wire.

Lots of folks use the existing, semi-rotted harness to trigger a relay (Ford-style solenoid, or Bosch-style small relay) that supplies full power to the "S" terminal. I've done it myself.

For the record, 12.45 volts to the large post on the starter is nothing to write home about. You should have 12.6--12.7 volts. Most likely, the battery is under-charged. Charge battery and re-test.
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