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Re: [T3] car wouldnt start...then did...then wouldnt...then did
Check the battery ground, and the wiring around the voltage regulator. With an
intermittent problem like that, grounds are the usual culprit. There is also a
cluster of ground wires going to one area under the dash, near the stearing
column. All factory gorund wires are brown. It also could be that the generator
is not charging all the time. That is why it dies when you put on the brakes,
or the head lights. The voltage drops too low for the computer to work. I dont
have a wiring diagram that I can refer to as to what the relay is, sorry.
Russ Wolfe
On Thu, 30 Mar 2000, TOASTEDT3@aol.com wrote:
> I got a call from Katie today saying the 71 Notch wouldnt start. We've been
> having some sporatic starting problems ever since we ripped out the original
> carpet.
>
> The car will start and run perfectly most of the time, but one in every 30-40
> starts nothing'll happen. This was the case when she left for work
> today....everything (but the gas gauge) was dead.
>
> I tinkered around thinking it must be one of the wires run along the floor
> that was loose or had a bad connection or something like that.
>
> Of the 2 wires I saw, one was attached to the tach and went back under the
> back seat and into the engine compartment. The other (a red one) did the
> same thing, but I lost it when it went through the firewall. It either
> changed colors and/or was fed into one of the stock wire wrapping devices
> that protects them. Thinking (hoping) it was the red wire, I traced it up
> under the dash and it went into what I think is the blinker box assembly. A
> little metal box part # 311 906 061 It's a 12V/10A 30/51 Bosch item that
> appears to be some sort of center for power? one wire from it went to/came
> from the fuse box and had power (per a test light). The fuse box also had
> power per the test light, but this wire that comes from the engine and runs
> along the floor didnt have power. Seems like power goes into this little
> box, but doesnt come out.
>
> As a last ditch effort I figured "lets jump it and see what happens" as soon
> as we had power hooked up and cranked, it started right up, one little push
> of the gas pedal and it caught. No typical dead battery lag or anything.
> We've also had no previous slow starting due to a weak battery.
>
> Thinking everything was ok, I disconnected the jumper cables and told Katie
> to check the blinkers and lights and stuff as it was getting a little dim
> out. Blinkers didnt work.....the blinker arrow lights on the gas gauge light
> up, but dont blink and the blinker bulbs themselves on the fenders dont light
> up at all. When she turned on the headlights the car immediuately died and
> once again would not even crank. It was totally dead when the key was
> turned.
>
> So we jumped it again and tried the brakes. Same thing happened. The car
> immediately died as soon as the brakes were applied. I took off the tail
> light lenses and removed all the bulbs and jumped it again. This time there
> was no effect when the brakes were applied so I followed Katie home and it
> ran fine. When we got home, I had her try and restart it and it started
> right up like it usually does. She also turned the headlights on with no
> problem. The tail lights were still out so we didnt check those, but I was a
> little baffled. Well ok, A lot baffled.
>
> I'm kind of stumped here. I'll take a look through muir and the bentley
> tonight, but I'm not even sure where to really start. I kind of have a hunch
> that it might be related to the previously mentioned part, but ideas of
> battery, voltage regulator, generator, ignition switch and starter also come
> to mind.
>
> Any ideas....In case you arent familiar with the car it's a stock 71
> Notchback with a stock 1600 and stock fuel injection.
>
> thanks
>
> Matt & Katie
>
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