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Technical 1950 Pontiac No electrical power

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by thegreenbuzzer, Dec 26, 2019.

  1. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    1950 silver streak. Put a new battery in no power anywhere. None to headlights or to ignition checked with tester. image.jpg Where to start? I have a new wiring harness that came with it to put in eventually. The fuses look good but not sure about the 2 on fire wall.
     
  2. RMONTY
    Joined: Jan 7, 2016
    Posts: 2,663

    RMONTY
    Member

    Pull the wiring harness out like you did the rear taillight and you will be golden! ;)
     
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  3. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Hahaha yeah I know right. That’s Purgatory! Guess that’s why there is a brand new one.
     
  4. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Got a new battery. No current anywhere. No the headlights or ignition. On a six volt what is the best way to check the starter? Should I start there? Solonoid appears new. Could the starter be blocking the current if it is bad?
     
  5. Do you have a multi meter or test light (6V?). Is the battery charged? How is your earth/ground? Positive or negative ground? Looking at the corrosion of those fuse holders, I would not use them. The main positive feed goes to the solenoid and the rest is in parallel with it, so it can't "block" the current.
    Does your starter have the solenoid mounted on top? if so, you can connect up a wire from the main fat feed to the starter to the solenoid terminal and it should spin up (this is where you need to know if it is positive or negative earth).
    Maybe get some basic electrical info (plenty on here), and start there.
     
  6. Lloyd's paint & glass
    Joined: Nov 16, 2019
    Posts: 10,886

    Lloyd's paint & glass
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Was Pontiac negative ground or positive?
     
  7. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,861

    goldmountain

    Use a test light. Across the battery terminals. Power there? ***uming that you are positive ground, Hook the alligator clip to ground and test the other end of the negative which is probably at the starter terminal. Power there? Is the ground connection good? Keep looking.
     
  8. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Yes on top. Pontiac May be pos ground I’ll check that.
     
  9. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    A23C5525-7C40-4036-B836-C8BB8945B023.jpeg
     
  10. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    So if it is pos g
    ground just flip the battery around?
     
  11. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

     
  12. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    At least I have the headlights and turn signals rewired now. Harness next. So if it is pos ground just switch the battery around?
     
  13. Lloyd's paint & glass
    Joined: Nov 16, 2019
    Posts: 10,886

    Lloyd's paint & glass
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, but I'm not for sure it's positive ground. Nothing marked around the battery?
     
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  14. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Yes power behind the solonoid on the pos
     
  15. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Ground connection looks pretty old strap style I’ll have to change that first tomorrow
     
  16. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,321

    BJR
    Member

    According to my 1954 motors manual Pontiacs from 1940 to 54 which the manual covers are negative ground.
     
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  17. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    I figured. Has juice to the solonoid. I think the ground strap is just too ****py
     
  18. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    I’m gonna get a new neg strap and just take out the starter and bench test it
     
  19. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 8,489

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    The wire you have hooked to the strap feeding the field coils from the solenoid should be on the same terminal as the positive cable. That's your whole problem.
     
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  20. 57 Fargo
    Joined: Jan 22, 2012
    Posts: 6,195

    57 Fargo
    Member

    This, if the wire on the bottom terminal of the solenoid is what you are referring to as a ground that is wrong I think. It should go on the top with the battery cable. Can we see a bigger picture?


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  21. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 8,489

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    ^^^
    Didn't refer to anything as a ground. I said to put the wire on the solenoid stud feeding the fields where it belongs, which is on the positive battery cable post on the solenoid. Re-read post #19
     
  22. 57 Fargo
    Joined: Jan 22, 2012
    Posts: 6,195

    57 Fargo
    Member

    Sorry 302GMC, I was agreeing with you and talking about the above all at the same time, I realize now it was confusing


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  23. fyrffytr1
    Joined: Dec 20, 2016
    Posts: 1,718

    fyrffytr1
    Member

    1950 Pontiac is definitely negative ground. I have two and a 39 that is also negative ground.
     
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  24. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    So put the one circled in yellow on the positive? C5428991-5CFB-4368-AB98-D150CB70B563.jpeg
     
  25. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    07191725-559B-4D4B-BCC5-280A845F5B4C.jpeg
    Or this one circled in red below it?
     
  26. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 36,009

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The one in red, That is not a ground strap it is the power feed to the car. Pontiac stareter 50 (2)_LI.jpg If you look close that connection is from the solenoid to the field coils. nothing else goes on that connection.
     
  27. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    So I guess that’s why it was parked for last 2 years when he put a new solonoid on. Lol. 931 miles since the motor was rebuilt in 2011. Have pics in an album of the motor rebuild. Can’t wait to get tires and drive it. Thanks!
     
  28. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,861

    goldmountain

  29. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    Can you please clarify that? What is Bakelite? Is that the plastic around the wire? Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2019
  30. thegreenbuzzer
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 86

    thegreenbuzzer
    Member
    from Knoxville

    I guess that would explain no power to ignition or headlights or anything. Blocking all the current.
     

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