1966Oldsmobile

Hi,

one day after my car got street legal I want to take a little tour because the weather was very nice. I started the car and everything was OK. One minute later I want to start it again and nothing happens. No Starter, no lights, nothing. I guess a fuse is broke now but I`m not sure. I cheked the wiring diagram but hmmm.

What can be the issue. Thank you very much for your answers!
BR from Austria

RandyS

Have you tried cleaning your Battery Cables? The terminals can become corroded over time and loose conductivity, or could just be loose? Be sure to check the ground connecton (Negative Battery terminal to block/frame). There are no fuses in the starter circuit or headlights so they should work if there is power.

MDchanic

+1.

Clean battery terminals. The posts and the insides of the clamps should be shiny.

It is easy to have a small area of good contact, with the rest of the connection corroded, and then have this small area of contact vaporize from excessive current flow when cranking the car, causing it to go from "everything working" to "nothing working."

- Eric

1966Oldsmobile

I will try that! Could it be anything else, broken parts etc.....
The battery itself is OK.

Thank you very much

Octania

To lose everything all at once implies the a major cable or its connection is at fault.

Do you know how to check for voltage drop from one point in a circuit to another? That should pinpoint the issue if cleaning the cables' connections does not do the trick.

You say the battery is ok... how do you know that?

Do the headlights come on? Stay on bright while starter is activated?
Headlights are unfused, outside of a circuit breaker built into the switch.

Often, there is a fusible link between battery and everything on the car's interior. This is where your voltmeter or light bulb base probe will find the fault quickly.

squirell

check the wires going to the starter at the starter...if they are shorted or melted together you will have nothing....just happened to me

lemoldsnut

I agree check that wires at the starter. Sounds like that harness shorted. Not that uncommon.

RonFX

Hey:
Check the fusible link as mentioned, I owned a 67 Lemans and everything died driving down the road, turned out to be the fusible link under the hood.
Thanks Ron

squirell

Ron,
Can you snap a pix or give a detailed discription of where the fusable link is ?
I have the whole starter harness out and see nothing but the three wires ?

RandyS

I do not believe that there is a fusable link on a 66 Cutlass unless it was installed as an aftermarket item.

squirell

I concur...at least not under the hood of my 67 I don't see any