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Old 10-18-2010, 11:12 PM   #1
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5
Year: 1974
Coachwork: Ward
Engine: 350
Starting problems

Okay, I have a 1974 GMC school bus, Ward body, 350 V8. When I turn the key, the altmeter goes up o 12, but when I continue to turn the key and try to start it the meter goes to zero and I am unable to start the bus, nothing happens, no clicks, no turning of the starter. New starter, new battery, new battery cables, new ignition.I recently added an aditional fuel guage because I plan on adding a new fuel tank, gauge does match the new fuel tank. Gauge is not hooked up to the tank yet, but it is hooked up to ground and power. The headlights, wipers and new fuel guage have stopped working. This is a new problem as they all worked before.Im thinking it may be a bad ground, but where? Not sure where to start looking. Could it be a burned out voltage regulator? If so what does it look like and where is it located on this bus.Personally I think this bus is haunted with a curse as everytime I fix one problem something else goes wrong preventing me from starting it and driving it. Thinking of buying another one, gutting this one, then towing it away.Any and al ladvice is appreciated. Thanks.

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Old 10-19-2010, 07:12 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
Re: Starting problems

Your problem is probably minor, and when it is found you will no doubt kick yourself for the money already spent.
Quote:
. . . When I turn the key, the altmeter goes up o 12, but when I continue to turn the key and try to start it the meter goes to zero and I am unable to start the bus, nothing happens, no clicks, no turning of the starter. . . The headlights, wipers and new fuel guage have stopped working. . .
This is your clue. a meter is a fairly sensitive device. If there is a high resistance in the wiring, the voltage will show near normal until there is a draw, and then the resistance will take the bulk of the voltage leaving nothing for the meter or the loads. Think of it as the difference between taking a sip of water from a 100-gallon tank with a straw, and trying to empty the tank with a straw as compared to a 4-inch pipe.

An old no-start trick was to turn on the headlights. If they came on, then try the starter. If they stay bright, it is a starting system problem, if they go out, the starter is connecting the load, and the power is being lost by a shorted starter, a high resistance, or a near-dead battery. The internal resistance in old battery cables or a dying battery would be the first place to look, but you have already replaced them.

The first step, after using the dash meter test and before spending money (sorry), is to put a meter directly across the battery, and then try starting. If it happily stays at 12+ volts, then you have a wiring problem. If that meter also drops to near nothing, then the starter is loading it down, and you have either a bad battery or a shorted-out starter.

Since all the accessories have lost power, I would suspect a loose or burned feed to them, or a failed accessory-power solenoid. A little power is getting to the key, as noted on the instrument panel meter, but it sounds like it is not enough to activate the starter solenoid and get you going. Trace the wire from the battery to the wiring compartment, turn the key each time you come to a connection, and find the spot where the volts first drop. Replace whatever is in the wiring between the last place the volts do not drop on your meter, and the first place that they do.

p.s. You can check your battery ground by putting the (-) of your meter on the battery (-) post, and put the (+) on a bare spot on the frame. Then try the starter. If the frame jumps up to a +voltage, then the ground strap is not making a good connection. It might show a little bit of voltage rise with a sensitive meter, but it it is half a volt or more, improve your ground.

(On a positive-ground vehicle, reverse the meter leads, but look for the same voltage rise across the ground strap.)

Good luck!
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Old 10-19-2010, 11:04 AM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 758
Re: Starting problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smitty
....besides, buying another use bus would just be a different set of problems (it's kinda like getting re-married ).

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Old 10-20-2010, 12:49 PM   #4
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5
Year: 1974
Coachwork: Ward
Engine: 350
Re: Starting problems

Getting remarried ( shudders) perish the thought. Thanks for the helpful info. Amazingly it was a simple fix. Someone prior to me had installed a fuse holder in the power line, but had replaced the fuse with a bolt.?????
The bolt was still in place but was not making contact. Now I have to figure out the windshild wiper problem, Two different switches on the panel, one switch for each windshield wiper. They start but then stop and stay in place. I plan to replace the two switches first as a start.Then go from there. Thanks again for your help. Nice to know there are peopl I can talk to who have been there and done that.
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