Any Ideas on Engine Starting Problem?

[musclecar fan]

I live in Los Angeles and have a 69 RS/SS Convertible and am having engine starting problems. Here is what is happening: Sometimes when I go to start the car in the morning, or after I have already driven awhile I am unable to get the car to start-up. I turn the key and I only get is a single "click" which sounds like a relay or the starter solenoid or maybe something else. The engine does not crank over. If I have someone give me a "jump" with their battery I can start the car. My battery is new and is fully charged (I even changed it to make sure it wasn't the battery) and my starter and solenoid are new too (I even changed that again to isolate the issue). I still have the same problem, namely even if I get the car started, once I get to my location and shut the engine off, all I get is the single "click" sound. Someone suggested changing the ignition switch and/or the horn relay. Any ideas on what may be causing this?

[mockingbird812]

Voltage regulator may not be doing its job. Have you measured your voltage once started? You should be getting 14+ volts.

[Big Block Bill]

Next time you experience this problem, have someone bang on the starter with a mallet or some blunt object while you are trying to start the car. If it cranks over & starts, sounds to me like you have a bad spot on your starter motor.

Bill

[quick-bowtie]

Sounds like a ground problem to me or a loose wire some where?

[Big Block Bill]

It is my experience that if it is a bad ground or a bad connection there would be a voltage drop or a "repetition of clicks sound" just like a low battery. Plus he said if he jumps it with another power source it starts right up overcoming the bad spot on the starter. Bench testing is hard to duplicate a starter bolted on an engine. For some reason, starters like to stop in the same spot.

Bill

[njsteve]

I had the single "click" problem on my 69 Pace Car. It was the repro spring ring battery cables. The neg cable would not hold tight enough to the battery terminal. It would give one click and nothing more. I would then pop the hood push the clamp down hard against the battery and it would start normally.

[PeteLeathersac]

Do the headlights also shut down when the click thing happens?.
If so it sure sounds like connection, ground, wiring or solenoid problems more than the starter body itself?.
Using jumper cables from your own battery, create a direct ground by clamping the negative end to your starter itself and trying it again..
If no-go there, unhook the neg. cable and create direct positive to the starter connections using your battery jumper lead clamped to a long screwdriver if necessary to access the connections...being careful may involve slipping heater hose or something over the screwdriver shaft and/or getting the screwdriver end in first then having someone else hook up the live end?.

Good luck!.
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

[Rixls6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Big Block Bill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Next time you experience this problem, have someone bang on the starter with a mallet or some blunt object while you are trying to start the car. If it cranks over &amp; starts, sounds to me like you have a bad spot on your starter motor.

Bill </div></div>

I 2nd that idea.

[COPO]

He already said both the starter and solenoid were replaced already, plus a new battery and the problem still persists.

[bluel78]

I would take the starter off and bench test it. You could have to bad starters. Make sure the wiring and the wire ends are in good condition as well.