[Vicioso]

My '68 Buick Lesabre won't start...I just replaced the alternator and regulator, and battery. She turns over once or twice but won't start. There's plenty of juice cuz the lights and stereo work. Is it the ignition? The starter? Help an amateur out please!

Thanks dudes.

 

[rat_guerue]

could be the ignition switch but not sure man try wturning it back and forth a bunch



jj

 

[bud-23]

Go to the electrical section. You will get more responses there.

 

[78novaman]

Ditto, please move to electrical section.

As for an answer: just take the battery cables back off and clean them very well with a wire brush. Put 'em back on and you should be good to go.

BTW, my bro has a blue 68 LeSabre 4 door. Nice ride dude.

 

[docvette]

no start..

Doc hereimp:

Is it just because it turns over and won't start...or turns once or twice and the battery dies?

More info please...

If it just cranks once or twice and the battery dies, and your cables are tight and clean, then you are only getting a surface charge into the battery...Get a proper Battery charge for about 6 or 8 hours...An alternator WILL not fully charge a dead battery!!

The Stereo will run for hours long past "Dead" on the battery...it's a low current device (compared to the 600 CCA starter) as well as the lights..so that's not really a good indicator..

If it just cranks and won't fire..you have ignition problems..68, is that still points? If so, check your coil for 12 volts at the resistor (usually mounted on the side of the coil, or near by, or could be a cotton bound wire) and 6 to 9 volts at the coil.

If that is good, check your points, Turn the key on, with the cap and rotor removed, and with an insulated screwdriver, manually open and close the points (they have to be on a low lobe to do this) If they won't spark, gap them around 17 thousands and check for pits or burns that could insulate contact.

Check the wire to be sure it is good and tight and not shorted on ground. Remove the cap wire (it could be shorted to ground) and see if you get fire at the points.

If it's an HEI, check the "BATT" terminal wire for 12 volts, If that is there,then check the Engine Control module (auto parts stores have a free machine to test these) or the magnetic pickup and pole piece, either of these will kill spark.

If these are good, then test the coil..It should read about 6000 ohms from the Batt or tach terminal on the cap to the rotor Button pick up on the inside of the cap.

Tach to batt should read 0 ... Also check your rotor button pick up itself, it could be worn beyond serviceability, or the spring has fallen out...

These should get fire back if that's what's missing....

Doc imp: