Deuce is Dead - Or so it seems

[NTXSCANO]

So I've had my M35A2 for about a month and a half now. Runs and drives great. Well, runs great... drives as they all do. Anyway, it rarely goes more than 4-5 days without at least a start-up. Always cranks right up. So last night I went to start it, flipped on my power, everything lights up, buzz is buzzing loudly... I go to start it and it makes sort of a funny sound for about a half a second (can't describe it... maybe an electrical funny sound) then everything shuts off. No more buzzing, lights, etc. Dead. Now it's as if the batteries are disconnected. The batteries are good. Any thoughts as I dig into this? If the solenoid goes out, would that cause it to loose all the power?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

J

 

[swbradley1]

Check your grounds and the battery terminals.

If any are loose or corroded it can exhibit those symptoms.

 

[gringeltaube]

Basics first: check all battery posts and ground connection. Then measure/confirm each battery's voltage; 12.7 V at least.







Edit: Ha, Steve, you typed faster!

 

[Katavic918]

Ground/battery connections. "Funny electrical sound" may be arking you are hearing.

 

[NTXSCANO]

You are all right. It was a terminal that came loose. I tightened it down and all is well in the world. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[swbradley1]

Wow! We were right for a change.

 

[swiss]

Wow! We were right for a change.

OMG. I was always wondering why things took ten times to fix

Now I know to read the tenth suggestion

 

[porkysplace]

Probably still a good idea to clean all the connections , loose cable and arching can make for a bad connection.

 

[DavidWymore]

Probably still a good idea to clean all the connections , loose cable and arching can make for a bad connection.

Yes, do it! These kinds of problems seem to come in batches. Terminal lug on the ground cable from the starter to frame cracked and melted off on mine, among other things.