My 68 wont turn over. I have the battery fully tested, I have a clean ground connection to the engine block. When I open the door, the interior lights come on. When I put the key in the ignition I the buzzer is loud and clear, however when I go to crank the engine, I get nothing. No clicking or anything like it is even going to attempt to crank. Just dies.

Any help?

 

If the car has been set up with an HEI I may suspect it could be the ignition module under the distributor and rotor.

 

If it is an auto trans, try moving the gear selector while trying to crank the engine. If it tries to crank; your neutral safety switch is out of adj. or bad. Or disconnect the nss and jumper across the connector to rule out the switch. If you are good with wiring schematics, find one for your car and analyze the starter circuits. This will help you determine how to diagnose the problem.

 

Turn the headlights on and see if they go out when you turn the key to start. You can also check for voltage at the "S" terminal on the starter.

 

^ yes, if the headlamps fade away when cranking, you're dropping current across the solenoid or starter. Does the solenoid click when you roll on the key to start? If the starter/solenoid are sketchy or unknown replace them with premium parts not refurb junk. You want her reliable right?

 

Sounds like a bad starter solenoid.

 

If it is auto I would have to agree with GS72. I had the same issue on my car. You kinda have to make sure it is in park before that starter will kick. Lights on my car all worked and I had checked starter and battery after a while it drove me nuts, but it was the safety switch on mine.

 

Ditto on the neutral safety switch. Every once in awhile I have to jiggle mine or I just start it in neutral. Gotta get under there one day, just a crappy location and I am a big dude.

 

Some might think its overboard but i just removed the entire bench seat to get to the bottom. Feels a little more comfortable.

 

If it won't even crank over, you need to fix the STARTER MOTOR system first.

Ignition is a separate system and comes in handy AFTER the engine is spinning.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions! My original inclination was a bad solenoid, but will definitely try what has been recommended and keep you posted.

Cheers!
Jon

 

Okay, that's sad. Yank the seat to mess with the safety switch. I hand soldered and spliced 30 wires on the factory harness to fit a modern fuse terminal block replacing the failing original. I could barly get up and walk straight after crouching in the footwell for long sessions. I'm an idiot!

FOUR LOUSY BOLTS and I could have been comfortable!! Nice to know... now.

 

Could also be the brushes or bushings in the starter as well. Especially if an older starter.

 

I had the same thing in my 68 Vista Cruiser; parked it and the next day it wouldn't start. monkeyed around with everything and decided to just bite the bullet and replace the starter. Started right up.
My son had the same thing happen in his 78 chevy van. Parked it outside and the next day it wouldn't start. Nothing. He played around with it, boosted it, cursed it and then borrowed my car to pick up a starter. Stupid cold up here in the winter, eh. He replaced the starter. Laying on the ground. In the winter. It still wouldn't start.
He then put the shifter in park and it started right up.
He is a Journeyman Heavy Duty Mechanic.
We still have laughs about it.

 

I think it's factory engineered to fail in the winter, in the snow, in the dark, with no clue it is going out.

They think it's funny! Ooh those Weasels.

 

I think thats one of Murphy's laws about parts failures.