O.k.

I'm coming down off the high of driving my 56 for the first time.  And there are some things I need to address.  The biggest is that sometimes when starting I'd say 1 out of 4 times, I'll turn the key and everything just goes dark.  It is like I don't have a battery in the car at all.  Then I have to go out, diconnect the battery, hook it back up and she is fine?  Sometimes I jiggle the solenoid too to get it back.

My question is is there some type of circuit braker?  or is this likely just the solenoid being touchy?  I'm nervous to drive too far, buecause what if I stall the car and my trick of disconnect/reconnect jiggle the solenoid doesn't work and I'm on a busy street?

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

How old is that starter solenoid? Sounds like something might be loose on the inside, or maybe one of your cables are loose? Those solenoids are about $15 at Advance or Autozone. Should be right on the shelf...Ford used them in all kinds of cars in the late 50s and 60s. From the video, it looks like your solenoid is not attached to the firewall right? If I remember correctly, the solenoid is supposed to be grounded...



keep us posted...it has been great to follow your story on this old 56! Go get 'em, man!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Sounds like a poor connection somewhere. Starting from the battery, clean the posts & cable ends then clean & tigthen the connection at the solenoid. Do the same on the negitive post. Clean the post & make sure the cable is clean & tight at the block. Next, locate the engine/body ground strap. Should be at the rear of the engine and the strap just connects to the firewall.  Make sure its clean & tight. Give that a try and get back with us.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

I agre about the solenoid for starting point.Get yourself a new one IF the one on there is original or old.Mount it properly to the side apron.I am assuming you have a known good battery and the generator is recharging the battery?Good to here you got the old girl driving.That will give you some more ambition to carry on! 

  

If everything "goes dark" when you hit the key, it isn't the solenoid.  Everything gets power at the solenoid where the battery cable and the #10 wire connect to the solenoid post.  A poor connection there, or a bad battery cable or dirty post will act like that.  Does it have the band aid cable ends that bolt onto a cable with the original clamp cut off?  The connection between that clamp and the cable can also be corroded.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Thanks Guys!

I will check some of those electrical connections now that I can driver her out in the sunlight!  Makes it alost easier to see.  The battery is brand new, and I wouldn't be surprised if the solenoid is original as the car has only 30k miles on it.  It could however be loose/coroded internally.  Also I wil likely get some new battery cables as the insluation is quite shrunkin on these old ones, and cleanin gup the electrical connections will be a good/fun task and make me more confident to taker her out on the street.

Now I just have to steal some more time!  This weekend is already booked up pretty good with family/kid stuff.  If I could get her licensed and registered I could driver her home/work etc.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

I noticed in the video that you pulled off one of the battery connections and put it back on. This could be your problem. Both cables have to be clean and tight. Also clean and check the connections at both ends. Don't forget the cable that goes from the solenoid to the starter. They need wire brushed or scraped clean and tight. Make sure to clean the post on the starter too. I've seen many a Ford not start because of the starter connection. Sometimes a wiggle will help but thats just a sign that cable service is needed. Is the car still stalling or did it run ok on the street after it warmed up? Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Make sure the battery posts and cable ends are clean and tight.  Sounds like a loose or dirty connection. 

Butch Lawson

Manchester,  TN

Nate - When you get the car outside for all of this cleaning the boys recommend.....use a solution of baking soda and water on the bits of corrosion you find (battery connections and so forth). Its a time honored mechanics remedy - and get a small jar of Vaseline to coat the freshly cleaned surfaces. The "V" stuff is actually somewhat conductive as well as protective.

Another thing to collect up (they are reasonably inexpensive) - is one of those "disconnects" that fits on the ground cable / battery connection. When clamped between the battery post and ground cable, it looks like a green knob that can be removed to open the circuit on the ground side. It allows killing electrical power when the vehicle is un-attended or you want to be sure no sparks can jump.    

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Moonshadow...yes you busted me.  The battery cables clamps are so old they are not really "clamp-able" anymore, the bolts used to tighten the battery cables to the battery posts are frozen.  So I just twist the cable ends onto the battery posts as best I can.  I know this is not cool (niether was forgetting to turn the lights off when I did it), and although I know you're right that this can cause problems, I've never understood how/why it causes problems.It would make sense if the lights flickered, or if I had low voltage that didn't spin the starter, when battery cables are loose, but why a complete loss of power? 

When this happens to me on the ford, I will be able to start the engine a few times with no problem, but then the third (or fourth or whatever) time I turn the key and there is a click, or almost a thunk, and everything just goes completely black and it is like I don't have a battery at all.  Everything is gone...no dome light, nothing.  it is hard for me to imagine this is only due to the loose cables...there must be some other component involved that is creating an open circuit until I disconnect the battery and hook it back up.  Is it possible for a solenoid to "stick" in some half-way position that would create an open circuit to the entire car?

Like I said I know first hand poor battery connections can cause wierd unexplainable problems...I just like to understand things, if anyone can give me an theory (or acutal answer) that help be keep me occupied until I can get back out to the garage most likely this weekend.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan