hard starting 34 terraplane 6cyl

Unknown

I have been having trouble with starting.Engine turns over ok but dosent want to start until i let go of the button? This dosent happen every time but usually when the engine is warm. The original ignition mounted coil has been bypassed and a second coil mounted behind the dash.I originally thought that somehow the coil might not be getting the proper voltage and when the button is let go it does and this causes greater spark.I also suspected that the starter had to much of a draw and this was drawing from the available current for the coil. Battery and cables are new.

Jon B

Just grabbing at straws here: have you checking the timing? Could this be a fuel vapor lock problem and not starter-related at all? Are both ground straps and their connections to the car, good? Is the battery cable the correct one for a 6 volt, and are the connections all clean and bright?



In order to take the starter button out of the 'loop', have you tried using the remote starter on the solenoid (with ignition turned on, of course)?

Unknown

I have played with the timing and adjusted it as per the repair manual.I have olso checked to see if fuel is present in the carb prior to start and there is.The ground straps are as follows battery to frame,frame to motor,frame to body all are 6v.main ground is a strap.I have started the car with the remote button only once so i cant say that i have explored that enough to rule out a problem.I will play with her again tomorrow and let you know.Thanks

Geoff

Another common cause of hard starting when hot is a bad condensor in the distributor, and also coil connected wrong way round.

Geoff.

Jon B

You said it doesn't happen every time but usually when the engine is warm. ALWAYS when the engine is warm? And, when it happens, does the car not re-start until it's cool? I had a problem like that once, and it turned out to be a malfunctioning coil which didn't like heat!

Unknown

The points and condencer are new. It will happen hot or cold. I usually drive it on weekends mostly so it is warm more than cold. I just cant understand why it starts after i let the starter button go.I can crank and crank it with no start and then let go and she is running.I am going to hook up a spark tester to see if its weeker when cranking.I have learned to let it crank only for a second the let go and off we go but i dont want to get stuck.Going to play with her again to get more info for everyone and thanks so far.

Jon B

Just for grins, have you tried to start with a hand crank, or roll the car to start it? In other words, if we don't engage the starter at all, we can eliminate all components except the starter, battery, solenoid, starter button and battery.

Unknown

rolling starts just fine.Still looking for a crank would be nice for flat parking lots.Nothing removes that proud smile at the end of a meet better than having your wife push your true love to get home.

Jon B

What condition's the battery in? Is it possible that the battery is so weak that it's giving its all just to turn the starter, with nothing left over for spark? When you release the starter button there's a surge of electricity to the spark plugs and just enough momentum left (from your previous cranking) to ignite the engine. As you are cranking, can you get a good healthy spark by placing the end of one of the spark plug wires near a ground (like the headbolt)? If not, consider upgrading to a newer and more powerful (in the 700's CCA rating) battery, or....you might have a short in your starter.

Unknown

The battery is new it has 650 cca. What should the amp draw be during cranking? It seems to crank ok like other 6 volt cars. I do have a spare starter i could try.What do you think about 8 volt batteries? You are right on when you say it seems to get a surge when i release the button. I will use a dvom,amperage meter to look for varying readings. I was fixed on a component fault rather than draw. It always helps to get a different view on things.

thanks again

Geoff

You need to put a voltmeter (analog type) across the coil when cranking the starter. anything below 5 volts signifies excessive draw from the starter. Fix the problem, and you won't need an 8 volt battery. Good luck,

Geoff.

Unknown

I had a situation like this on a 37 Olds. It was very hard to start both hot and cold. I did a process of elimination. I isolated the ignition switch by disconnecting the wires at the coil and running a seperate jumper wire from the battery to the + side of the coil (37 Olds is negative ground) then I tried to start it and the problem was solved. It seems that the ignition switch was the wrong switch. It was out of some 60's GM car. It must have had high resistance inside of it. So I installed an original ignition switch with the armored cable and an original style coil. Now it starts right up hot or cold.

Unknown

Where your battery cable and the ignition wires hook to the starter sol post try putting the ignition wire on first then battery cable on top. I remember my dad had an

old 37 Chev truck that would only start this way.

Good Luck!

R Sims

Unknown

got it!! I was under the dash checking the coil for 5volts or higher during cranking when i wiggled the wires attached to the back of the instrument cluster and found a loose one. This was a group of three wires, tightened it and problem solved. thanks for everyones help.

[Deleted User]

hi hudson dave here.my thought would be to hook a jumper wire from the starter button to the coil so when you push the button you are sure there is fire to the coil in the start positon you could have a switch problem. as far as 8 volt batterys they are the cats meyow faster starts better lights and it dosen't heart a thing. from the for what its worth dept. Hudson Dave