Electrical guru needed, 65 Acadian cranking issue

RAILSKINNER · Addicted!

RE: Electrical guru needed, 65 Acadian cranking issue

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Well, it's interesting. Since beaumontguru suggested it could be as simple as bad cable connections at the battery, I've tightened up the positive cable only. The car has been here at our dealership so I have to drive it in and out each morning and evening to free up the shop space during the day. I've likely started it at least 15 times in the last 5 or so days and it's never missed a beat... Could it be that simple???

chader · Guru

I believe it. I have had similar experiences.

mr409 · Addicted!

Dave is right about battery cables. Almost all of my cars do the same thing if they're loose. TIGHTEN THEM!! and use dielectric grease.

2drpost · Uber Guru

try to use a volt meter whenever possible

had a similar issue with a f@rd years ago, test lite said lots of power at the solenoid.

turns out the pos cable was badly correded where the cable was molded into the battery clamp. good bright test lite but not enough voltage at the starter

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Maybe the bolt clamping the cable to the terminal is below torque specs. confuse

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I am still planning to work with the feed from the battery just to be on the safe side. It just kind of makes me laugh that now since I want to dig deeper in to this thing and get to the root, it works flawlessly!

67Poncho · Uber Guru

Carl Stevenson wrote:
I am still planning to work with the feed from the battery just to be on the safe side. It just kind of makes me laugh that now since I want to dig deeper in to this thing and get to the root, it works flawlessly!

Have you tried it hot?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Not super hot but 4 or 5 miles just running around close to home, yes. It would do it ice cold though when it was acting up.

Turtle · Addicted!

I haven't read all the posts, so I'm not sure what was suggested. Years ago someone I knew had a starting problem similar to what you descibed. he replaced the battery and starter. The problem persisted. I found the problem to be the positive battery cable to the replacement battery terminal (top post). It was just dirty enough to cause an intermittent starting problem.

I cleaned the cable and terminal where the wire goes used some dielectric grease and he didn't have a problem again.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I had the problem again 2 days ago. checked my neg battery terminal and found that i had not tightened it enough last week. I had so much dielectric grease on the terminal that it was causing the terminal to slip up the tapered post. Tighened the crap out of it this time, and has been clear sailing for the last 2 days.

And trust me i have driven it alot in the last 2 days, so if it was going to act up again, it would have

Crazy, i know, but it that terminal is not tight as hell, it will not start all the time!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I was enjoying the lake view all weekend so the car sat idle. It better perform this Thursday though, number one son is using it for his graduation! I'll make VERY sure those terminals are clean and tight.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

lots of good tips thanks guys ill bet everyone has had this problem with old gms,me for sure with more than one car and yea carl those cheap solinoids dont even have copper parts in them!