I think I broke my car

Lucy and Linus · 03-13-2010, 02:30:22 PM

I have had our rebuilt 350 started just a few times, just in the driveway. I started it a few days ago and it ran for about 10 seconds and died. I could still hear the starter turning and I realized that the key was stuck in the start position. I didn't restart it. Now, a few days later, I tried to start it and it just turns over very slow. I read 11.8v and it drops to 6v while it is trying to start. I tapped the (new) starter with a hammer.

Could the battery just need a charge? It turned over fast before this happened.

Can you tell me what I broke?

Thanks

383CamaroZ28 · 03-13-2010, 03:48:22 PM

to begin, replace the starter first. if it ran that long, it probbaly burnt up all the brushes and will draw way to much power to start

Lucy and Linus · 03-13-2010, 06:46:56 PM

Well, I changed the starter and charged the battery and I get the same thing. I am pretty bummed.

Does anyone have an idea what I could have done?

10second81 · 03-13-2010, 06:56:05 PM

Poor connection somewhere? Check your battery cable ends at the battery, starter and wherever the negative grounds to. If you have a voltmeter, you can use it to troubleshoot. Measure the voltage across the battery terminals first. Then measure the voltage from the big starter lug to ground. You should have the same voltage. If it's lower, you may have a bad positive cable or a dirty connection. You can check the negative cable by first measuring battery voltage, and then move your negative voltmeter lead to the engine block. You should again have the same voltage in both positions. If you don't, you may have a bad negative cable or a dirty connection.

DoTheDew · 03-13-2010, 10:43:09 PM

+1 for the bad connection. Sometimes with high draw the cable ends will burn just a little, causing carbon buildup. Take off the ground cable and scratch it up real good with a wire brush, as well as the block where it bolts. Make sure there is no paint where the starter bolts to the bolt, as this can prevent proper circuitry.

Lucy and Linus · 03-14-2010, 12:16:18 PM

I pulled the spark plugs and the distributor wire and it turns over fast. Am I assuming correctly that I need to pull the valve covers to see if I can see something?