Thread: 57 won't Crank

Tweet

Got what may seem like a dumb question as i am not a motorhead.My 57 Chevy with a 350 has standard point ignition.it will not start.Not even crank.i just replaced the starter/sol. a month ago.and the ignition switch a couple months ago.
Is it possible its the coil?Or would it still crank yet not start if it were the coil?Any other ideas appreciated.it does not seem that complicated a system,so i am not sure where else to look.
And yes,the battery is fine.(12.97volts)Lights come on fine.
Thanks for any suggestions.

----Lerch

check your ground. Make sure the cables are in good shape. If they are stock, then replace them. Sometimes old cables can look ok, but have high resistance. Check for voltage to the solenoid when you turn the key. Just because you replaced something does not mean it is ( still ) good.

To answer one of your questions, the coil won't have any effect on the starter turning your engine over. As a matter of fact, you could put a bare block in there with nothing but a crankshaft, flywheel, and starter in there, and it would still turn over (very fast,too).

Firebird's comments are all well taken. The wire you want to check on the solenoid when the key is turned to start position should be a single wire that comes from the ignition switch. You should show 0 volts there with the key in on position and 12V with the key in start position. The fact that you've replaced both starter and ignition switch recently makes me suspect both of them.

If you do show 12V on the solenoid check above, it's a starter or solenoid problem. If you show 0 volts with the key at start, its the switch or the wire from the switch.

Is the solenoid making any noise or can you feel a dull metal on metal thud when you try to crank it? Over the last few years I've run in to an increasing number of solenoid failures on rebuilt starters. I don't think the poor folks in Malaysia, Crackistan, and Barfminia that are the ones that are rebuilding them now check them very welll.

Hi OldMan and Firebird.
Thanks for the pointers,yet i did not fix it.
Took out ignition switch and tested.it is good.
Something odd is happing cause when i test the red Hot wire that goes to the "Batt." terminal on the switch and i get no voltage reading.And it seems to be grounded somehow,or shorting out.the starter will crank if i jump the terminals on the solenoid.very odd,cause i see no apparent wires shorting out.

its a mystery to me.

---Lerch