I have a 29 model A all original that is not getting any power. No lights, or horn and also won't crank. The only power I'm getting is to the dash light but it's dem. I drove the car all day yesterday then I went to move it I had nothing. Any ideas? I check battery wires and everything seemed to be good Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
It's a pretty simple system.Not too much to check. You say you checked the battery wires but did you check the battery as well?
Battery is brand new. I'll have to check everything when it gets warmer out Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
If it ran most of the day, you may have a bad generator cut out. This would allow the battery to discharge. Check the charging system if you don't find any wiring or grounding problems. ...................Jack
I tend to be of the "poor ground" school of thought on this one. To function properly, your electrical system should have 3 grounds: 1) battery to frame; 2) engine to frame; and 3) engine to body.
First put a battery charger on the battery for 24 hours and see if the problem goes away. If it does then you need to find out what caused it (generator bad, brake light stuck on?). If it starts with the charged battery, and you can't identify the problem, with everything turned off, remove the battery cable and touch it to the post and see if there is a spark which means there is a current drain somewhere. Most places will test a battery free (they hope to sell you one) so keep that in mind (be sure to take it to them in a charged condition, if it won't take a charge you have found your problem). Post what you find for further advice. This would be an excellent question for fordbarn.com. Charlie Stephens
Unfortunately in modern times "brand new" doesn't always equate to good. Charge it up and take it back to the place you bought it and have it tested. As you are probably well aware cold weather may contribute to the problem (actually I am basing this on what I have been told, living in Southern California I don't have any personal experience with cold). Charlie Stephens
An old timer told me to ground the battery on the transmission...I did and haven't had a problem yet.
Ok thanks guys I'll check it out when it gets warmer out. It done it to me once before when I first got the car but can't remember what I did to fix it. Lol Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Mostly good advice with one clown in the mix. I'd so as suggested. First charge the battery overnight Second check all of the grounds and electrical connections in the main circuits at least. There may be just enough corrosion in one or more connections to cause enough resistance to keep the electrons from flowing. Start at both battery connections and work your way out both ways. Make sure that you have a good ground on the end of the ground wire to the block and then go connection by connection on the other side checking for looseness and corrosion as you go and checking the wires for any suspect connections in the middle of the wire where they may have been patched together. Check to make sure that it actually is charging once you get it fired up again. That little banger doesn't draw much juice to run and will run a long time just off the battery without it charging and especially if you don't shut it off and restart it a number of times or aren't driving with the lights on.
On my 31 I Had a stcky brake pedal that caused the brake light to stay on. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Ok I put the battery on charge and now have power again. How will I know if the generator is working? Any easy way of checking or is it like regular cars and just pull a battery cable off and if it stays running then it's good? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Grab a digital multi-meter and put the probes on the posts of the battery and see what the voltage is before You start it, start it and see where it is after at idle and then rev it up it should jump up to I think 8 if your talking stock Set up Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
It's been a few years since I had my banger so my voltage may be wrong but I think that's what I had and it always held a charge Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I ground the battery to the frame as it was originally and then run an additional cable from that point to the flywheel housing right next to the starter (the transmission would probably work as well). You can't have too many and too good of grounds on a 6 volt system. Charlie Stephens
I always run my ground to the engine or trans, then a jumper to frame/body. The biggest draw is always going to be the starter, so why not give it the best ground it can get?
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