64 no start condition

[Don M.]

Guys, I am stumped. My 64 Coupe 300hp automatic has been dead reliable. The other day, I parked it and it wouldn't restart. Now, I pulled in the garage, I went to restart it 2 minutes later and nothing! No solenoid click, no try to crank, nothing. I had juice, lights, wipers, and I had just driven it. So I put a test light on the solenoid wire and had juice to the solenoid, so I loaded it in my trailer and went to my shop to put it up on the lift. I had tried to start it 20 times , nothing. I got to my shop, after a 3 mile tow. I turned the key and it started right up!!!!!!!! So I pulled my starter out and took it to a local(Believe it or not) starter -carb shop. I figured the solenoid or the winding were bad. Solenoid works perfect and the starter looks brand new inside. Now I am puzzled, so I have a couple of questions:
1 Neutral starter switch- Should it start in Park and Neutral??? Because when it starts it only starts in Park- not neutral!!

#2 The rod on the trans to the switch is very sloppy, are we supposed to adjust it??? its just a tiny little rod with an adjustment on the end.

#3 If I had juice at the starter solenoid connection, wouldn't that mean the neutral starter switch was ok??

I need some hints guys, I'm at a loss! Don

[Alan D.]

Re: 64 no start condition

A few more details, have you put new wiring harnesses in it? did they include the bulk head connectors? Sounds like you may have a poor connection. Jumper out the neutral switch, take that out of the problem just remember it's jumped (tie orange tap on wheel to remember).

[Don M.]

Re: 64 no start condition

I could do that as a last resort, but I would like to fix the problem. Do you know, should it start in both Neutral and Park, or just park??

[Bob R.]

Re: 64 no start condition

It should start in both neutral and park. The fact that it started after moving it on a trailer makes me think it must be a loose electrical connection and as Alan mentioned above and the first place you might want to look is the fire wall connectors mentioned above. The terminals may need to be cleaned.

[Russ T.]

Re: 64 no start condition

I had a similar situation with a '64 4-spd. car that I own. Just inexplicably refused to
crank, totally dead, about 10-20% of the time. Finally tracked the problem to a short
in the wiring harness by shaking the harness and then the car fired right up.

The harness looked original and about 50 years old and was badly frayed.
The bad places were in locations that were partially hidden and not readily seen.
Replaced the engine harness and have had no problems since.


Russ Trotter
NCRS #15044

[Edward J.]

Re: 64 no start condition

Don the fact that you had juice to the solenoid when trying to crank tells me you have a solenoid problem, sometimes they can be intermittent. were you putting the test light to the S terminal when trying to start?, it should be power with key to start. I believe that is the purple wire. (pink is ignition)

[Don M.]

Re: 64 no start condition

It should start in both neutral and park. The fact that it started after moving it on a trailer makes me think it must be a loose electrical connection and as Alan mentioned above and the first place you might want to look is the fire wall connectors mentioned above. The terminals may need to be cleaned.

Bob, I will check the connections on the firewall, but something you said has me thinking. You said it should start in Park and Neutral, it only starts in Park. I keep wondering about that Neutral starter switch. Plus it looks to be adjustable. anybody ever adjust it?? It has never done this before, It now starts fine! But I am doing an 80 mile road tour and I really don't want to no start 40 miles from my trailer!!

[Joe R.]

Re: 64 no start condition

Don,

I totally agree with Ed because if you had +12 at the purple wire as you said the solenoid should have kicked in. You say this happens after driving the Vette for a while.
Typical of heat causing the solenoid to open the wirings, usually the ground inside.
Replace the solenoid and you should be OK!

JR

[Domenic T.]

Re: 64 no start condition

I also agree with Ed.

Dom

[Don M.]

Re: 64 no start condition

Guys, we have a local generator, starter , carb shop. The owner is a friend, been there since 1970. I had him take apart my starter, The windings in the starter look new, the starter solenoid was perfect, looked new inside. So I will clean the connection on the bulkhead, BUT!! It only starts in Park, I believe you guys agree, it should start in Neutral too. I think it would be good to check and put a neutral safety switch in it. Plus, I'm going to put it in Park and see if I can adjust it to start in Neutral too> What are your thoughts.

[Mark E.]

Re: 64 no start condition

You have at least two issues:

- Neutral SW bad, has a poor connection, or needs adjustment. Symptom: Only works in Park; not Neutral.

- Intermittent solenoid problem. Symptom: solenoid does not engage with power to S terminal (you are checking the proper terminal, right?). It doesn't matter the solenoid "was perfect, looked new inside." You can test it, or since it's inexpensive, just replace it.

[Don H.]

Re: 64 no start condition

I replaced the neutral/safety switch in my '65 powerglide (actually it was missing). I could not get it adjusted to start in both park & neutral (but did not spend a lot of time on it). What I ended with is it will always start in park & only in neutral if you move it toward reverse. I have always meant to go back and try again but never taken the time. Good luck, Don H.