Power drain - no start problem

[chevyaddict]

Well, finally got stuck with the 84. Before I say what happened, let me preface by stating we have had a negative ground problem to the battery in the past and it would react similarly as it did the other night. However, the usual "take the cables off, clean and retighten" strategy didn't work this time.

What is happening is when you turn the key to the "on" position (without starting) its like only having "half" power. If you try to start the car, everything goes dead - lights and all. When you return to the "on" position half power again. Tried to jump the car - same deal; no difference. So the additional power gained from the donor car is NOT allowing full power access. This happened completely out of the blue - had been driving the car all day with no problems.

Granted, the battery is old, however, I would assume that UNLESS a plate shifted loose inside the battery itself, you could still jump start a car with a bad battery - because it would get the power from the donor car and the power to run off the alternator.

So, any suggestions? I don't think the positive cable is grounding because if it were you wouldn't get any power at all, right? It would short the system.

It is a side post battery with no corrosion so I don't think replacement of the cables are in order.

HELP!!
Dawn

 

[vigman]

Two ways to go here

The MAIN power ( positive) is on the BIG cable coming down to the starter.. all this does is provide the BIG current to spin the motor over.

Molded into the positive connector is a smaller red wire ( 12 gauge).. this cable provides power to the jump start block on the firewall side ( where all the redwires join behind the battery).

In my 84 that wire had corodded SO BADLY that only about 1/2 the strands were connected & working.

Check that out....


Vig~