I had been driving my recently acquired 1972 FJ40 (10/71) off and on for the last few months. Everything is original on her. I was on my dirt drive way yesterday and decided it was a good time to see if my transfer case was in good working order. I stopped, put her in 4 low and away I went. All was right with the world.
Whenever I turn the key she starts right up without asking why. Until today today that is. When I turned the key, she turned over once then clicked. I opened the hood and noticed that I forgot to secure the battery to the tray. It was hanging half off the back side of the battery tray and was being held in place by the ground wire to the engine block. I placed the battery back where it belonged and checked to see that there weren’t any broken or disconnected wires. I checked resistance of both the ground cable and the positive cable connected to the starter solenoid. Both were good (0 ohms). I checked the battery voltage and came up with 12.6 volts. I then moved to the fuses and all were fine.
Here’s the kicker, I checked my headlights but couldn’t get anything out of them. Not a glimmer. Every time I try to start her up I get a single click sound then nothing when I turn the key a second time. I come back with a glimmer of hope that she has resolved the issue herself. Only to hear the same single click from the starter solenoid followed by nothing on every successive turn of the key.
I’m not sure where to go next. I don’t think the starter/solenoid are bad. I’m thinking something else is going on. Any ideas guys?
Whenever I turn the key she starts right up without asking why. Until today today that is. When I turned the key, she turned over once then clicked. I opened the hood and noticed that I forgot to secure the battery to the tray. It was hanging half off the back side of the battery tray and was being held in place by the ground wire to the engine block. I placed the battery back where it belonged and checked to see that there weren’t any broken or disconnected wires. I checked resistance of both the ground cable and the positive cable connected to the starter solenoid. Both were good (0 ohms). I checked the battery voltage and came up with 12.6 volts. I then moved to the fuses and all were fine.
Here’s the kicker, I checked my headlights but couldn’t get anything out of them. Not a glimmer. Every time I try to start her up I get a single click sound then nothing when I turn the key a second time. I come back with a glimmer of hope that she has resolved the issue herself. Only to hear the same single click from the starter solenoid followed by nothing on every successive turn of the key.
I’m not sure where to go next. I don’t think the starter/solenoid are bad. I’m thinking something else is going on. Any ideas guys?
