Car Won't Start

[Guest SLO Ken]

My '61 LeSabre has been sitting for a couple of months. I went to start it the other day, but nothing happened. All the lights on the instrument cluster light up like they're supposed to, but there wasn't even a tic from the starter. I was confused, so I checked the service manual. After reading through the troubleshooting section, I shorted the starter solenoid and it cranked just fine. So the trouble, I think, must be in the wiring between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid. My question is this... Is it more likely to be a faulty neutral safety switch, or a bad ignition switch, or neither of the above? Can these parts be repaired, or do I need to start looking for replacements? Thanks.

-Ken-

[The Old Guy]

The first thing to check is the neutral safety switch. Move the shift lever firmly three or four times and then move it very solidly into park. Sometimes they just get lazy .

[NTX5467]

The neutral safety switch can be an issue, but you might also desire to check other things for correct function. Seeing which side of the ignition switch the things that work might be wired in on and work or not work. For example, if the radio plays with the switch in "ON" or "ACC" plus the charging system and oil pressure warning light, that would indicate that power is getting to the switch and going through it. A main block to the starter circuit is the neutral safety switch, which is "after" the ignition switch.

One place to look, which is not thought of too much, is the wiring bulkhead connector on the firewall. If you can use your service manual to see what the size and color code of the main feed wire to the ignition switch is (probably a large 10 gauge wire?), then you might check for voltage on either side of the connection. I found out one time, that voltage can get through when "amps" can't . . . which is how I found a thin layer of corrosion between the battery terminal and the battery post, which looked just fine at first glance.

Unfortuately, probably going to be a "diagnostic" situation, I suspect.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[Guest SLO Ken]

Thanks for the advice. I hope I can get this worked out soon. The weather is far too nice to not be on the road.

-Ken-

[Guest unclefogey]

Ken,

If I may ask, what is classified as bad weather for driving a classic car in your area of California? Got up this morning in this land of 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad sledding to see frost on the windshield of my truck.

John

[Guest SLO Ken]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ken,

If I may ask, what is classified as bad weather for driving a classic car in your area of California? Got up this morning in this land of 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad sledding to see frost on the windshield of my truck.

John </div></div>

Well, we had about a month of rain a while back .