Electrical Issue

[glennstar67]

I need some advice please. During my drive today I noticed the amp gauge was showing discharge. When I got home I saw the battery wire on the alternator was broken off. I put a new end on it and now the car will not start. The headlights and dome lights won't even turn on. If I put a screwdriver on the starter relay it will crank the motor. I have power to the batt, alternator, coil, ballest res, ign module, and starter relay. I replaced the fuseable link and still nothing. Help!! Lol
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[Mike Szadaj]

Check the bulkhead plug. Am I correct in assuming we are talking about a 67? It seems as if you are saying you have power under the hood but none inside the car. Which ever terminal on the bulkhead connector the fusible link goes to, check that same wire on the inside of the car For 12 V with either a meter or an unpowered test light

 

[Mike Szadaj]

If you have power inside the car at the bulkhead connector, the next place I would check would be the hot side of the fuse box. Remember that some of those fuses only get power when the key is on, (radio, heater) others have constant power whether the key is in the car or not (dome and brake lights, cigar lighter). If you have power inside the bulkhead connector, but not at the fuse box, you either have a bad wire or a bad ammeter

 

[Mike67]

Verify your ground.

 

[Ray70Chrg]

Did you check the fuses to see if any blew, " no lights ". How did the battery wire break off the Alt, thats a pretty sturdy wire usually held on by a nut. Do you mean one of the field wires? You stated you have power to the battery, the battery is the power. If the engine isn't running and the alt. isn't turning, the battery is the only source of power. As stated above, check for loose connections , damaged wires. You said you have power to the coil, pull one of the spark plug wires off a spark plug and hold close to the engine block and see if you get a spark jump as the engine is turning over. Your engine is turning over so you need spark and gas to get it going. Good luck. It seems everything went bad after you repaired the wire that broke off the alt. What color was that wire and are you sure you put it back in it's proper place.

 

[Mike Szadaj]

You say using a screwdriver on the relay will engage the starter and turn the engine over. Will the engine turnover using the key, or only when you short the relay?

 

[Mike Szadaj]

I was asking if it was a 67 because of your handle. After Noticing your avatar I guess we are talking about a 73.

 

[Mike Szadaj]

Power for the headlights does not even go through the fuse box. It goes straight from that fusible link terminal, through the ammeter, then to the headlight switch. That is why you need to check for 12 V on the inside of the car at the bulkhead connector. If there is a dead short somewhere that new fusible link could’ve got cooked as soon as you hooked it up.
If no power is getting through the ammeter, That would prevent the headlights from working

 

[Mike Szadaj]

Did you ever check the fusible link that you replaced to see if it was blown or not? This might be a good time to ask you about test equipment. Do you have a meter? A battery powered continuity tester? An unpowered Test light? A fusible link can be checked with any one of these three Pieces of test equipment

 

[glennstar67]

Did you check the fuses to see if any blew, " no lights ". How did the battery wire break off the Alt, thats a pretty sturdy wire usually held on by a nut. Do you mean one of the field wires? You stated you have power to the battery, the battery is the power. If the engine isn't running and the alt. isn't turning, the battery is the only source of power. As stated above, check for loose connections , damaged wires. You said you have power to the coil, pull one of the spark plug wires off a spark plug and hold close to the engine block and see if you get a spark jump as the engine is turning over. Your engine is turning over so you need spark and gas to get it going. Good luck. It seems everything went bad after you repaired the wire that broke off the alt. What color was that wire and are you sure you put it back in it's proper place.

 

[glennstar67]

The wire was old and broke off of the eyelet on the alternator when I moved it to replace the fuel pump.

 

[glennstar67]

You say using a screwdriver on the relay will engage the starter and turn the engine over. Will the engine turnover using the key, or only when you short the relay?

 

[glennstar67]

Only at the relay. No power at the key

 

[glennstar67]

Ok I disconnected the batt wire on the alt and the headlights came on briefly then shut off again

 

[glennstar67]

Reconnected alt wire and rechecked fusable link. Headlights came on briefly again then shut off

 

[Beekeeper]

Reconnected alt wire and rechecked fusable link. Headlights came on briefly again then shut off

That sounds like a ground issue

 

[glennstar67]

That sounds like a ground issue

It sure does. But where?

 

[Beekeeper]

It sure does. But where?

have you check the ground from the engine to the chassis

 

[glennstar67]

have you check the ground from the engine to the chassis

I haven't yet but I will. It all started when I reconnected that alternator battery wire. It just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Beekeeper]

I haven't yet but I will. It all started when I reconnected that alternator battery wire. It just doesn't make any sense.

I agree sometimes these things seem strange and complicated but once you find the issue it will be simple. Make sure you have good clean connections on the engine to chassis ground strap and the grounds on the headlamp harness. From the symptoms you give it’s a connection problem.