Now it won't start

[ll77]

So I finished my first valve adjustment today. The whole time, I had been using the starter to turn the cam, and when I tried to start the car up, it went "click, hummm." 2nd try, it cranked a bit and stopped, humm. It cranks slowly then eventually ends up making the humming noise. I was thinking I had burned out my starter, since I had been experiencing problems starting even before, but I just learned that I'm supposed to ground the high tension lead from the dizzy to the coil, not just leave it disconnected (I'm such a noob).

So I'm worried it may also be the ignition coil, as that would also cause it not to start (right?). This is also consistent with the terribly rich condition my engine runs in. My volt gauge will climb and look okay when i turn the key, then when I turn to start, it will drop all the way down to zero. Please help, I have deadlines to reach, and this is a major setback. Everything is appreciated, thanks!

[MicroMachinery]

If it was your coil, it would still crank. Just wouldn't fire. Check your connections.

[erichwaslike]

sounds like ur battery is dead if it has zero while trying to crank.

[Rob W.]

Charge the battery first. Continually running the starter without the engine running can kill it. Did you try jump starting it??

[metalmonkey47]

Did you check your grounds?

[datzenmike]

You don't need to ground the coil, just disconnect the output wire so the car won't start when bumping it.

Battery is likely poor shape if it was drained from a few bumps, you said you had problems before.

 

Get a boost , it will start. Have it (battery) tested with a load on it.

[ll77]

Ok thanks for the help guys. I'll charge it and see how it goes.

[ll77]

LOL. I charged it and it starts right up.:lol:

thanks everyone!

[freaky510]

lol don't you just love the simplicity of the Datsun

[banzai510(hainz)]

Hopefully the batter holds a charge or the alternator is putting enought out to charge the battery

[ggzilla]

Yes if you ground the coil, that's 5 amps constant drain... could drain your battery in the time it takes to adjust the valves

[ll77]

Yeah, Ratsun's great, thanks for not flaming me for my noobness :D

One more question.. my headlights dim and brighten strangely. It is more noticeably dim when I step on the brake, and it gets brighter when I step on the gas. The volt gauge is kind of shaky at about 14 or so. Is this something about the alternator? I know that it's driven by the engine so that's why I think so. You guys think this is normal, or is this something I should pursue?

[ggzilla]

That is normal when the engine is idling. The alternator at 1200 rpm or so puts out the full power and then the headlights shouldn't vary.

[Rob W.]

If the voltage is around 14 that's good make sure its accurate with a multimeter and then just drive the dang thing

[ll77]

oh ok cool, cool. Its been tested and it reads about 14, so its good!