Starting The Engine - Ugh...

[bigboi]

I have a 496BB in my 67 Camaro...

I have a red top Ultima battery that I keep trickle charged when I have the car parked so everytime I hop in the battery is 100%.

I am running a Powermaster 9426...
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...700+4294883170

There are times when I hop in the car to turn it over and it just barely wants to turn over the big block. It's like I am "wishing and hoping" the damn thing will turn over and fire up.

Just yesterday I went outside and went to start er' up and it just didn't want to crank the big block over even though the battery was at 100%. I hooked the jumper cables up to my Jeep and jumped started my Camaro from that vehicle.



Now... It has been real cold outside (around 15-20 degrees) so I am assuming yesterdays incident is because the block was so damn cold and needed a little extra effort.

But in the overall picture it's like everytime I go to start the car I have this weird gut feeling "hoping it will turn over".

Does anyone run dual batteries or something to get some extra cranking juice? Any ideas on running maybe I batter in the trunk as a "spare" or wired up in a dual configuration?

I just need a little extra insurance on my mind knowing the car will turn over when I need it to....

Thoughts?? Suggestions??

Brian

[minendrews68]

You may look to see if you have a grounding problem (not enough ground) or see if your starter is dragging. Just a couple of ideas.

[Vegas69]

If jumping it made the difference I would load test your battery at the parts store. Also check connections as mentioned.

[notagn]

Definitly check the red top!

[another69]

Yeah- check the battery & connections. Last summer I had a simular issue, and though everything looked ok- I could SEE no corrosion, I got a 3 volt drop from battery post to starter. (GM) I shined up the battery posts and terminals, and all was good.
If the battery load tests ok, and assuming it has enough CCA, poke around with a meter(not a test light). Happy hunting.

[beep4beep]

clean all the paint off the starter check all your battery to starter connections ground wire to case of starter and try again . had this problem with a Hemi roadrunner turned out to be the ground on the starter

[6'9"Witha69]

cosigned on the grounds and connections. If you made your own cables and ends try checking they are sealed and corrosion has not crept into the ends of the cable.

[cad]

Cables....and ground....
My 12:1 385sbc never thinks twice about starting. Even after storage all winter.
I have a couple friends with straight drag cars that have issues trickle charging their Optimas.
The battery supposedly will give a false "charged up" signal and will not take a trickle.
The local battery-only supplier told me about this happening occasionally.
I only use Hawker/Odyssey batteries. They only weigh 25 pounds and are small. They provide BIG initial cranking numbers compared to their rating. They are worth a look if you have issues with your "red top".

[bigboi]

Wow... I almost feel like an idiot posting this...

I only have a positive cable running to the starter. I saw the other post on the starter solenoid but I just ignored it. I just I am foolish to think that wasn't a ground post. That's what happens when you don't read the instructions - Get err' done... LOL!

Should I run the ground cable from the starter to the motor block or to the frame?

The whole time I have been cranking it up like this... Hope I didn't damage the starter - It wasn't a cheap starter...

Brian

[beep4beep]

ground it the same as the negative battery post either to the block or the frame

[bigboi]

Well I just got back from the parts store and it seemed the batter was 100% charged w/ 13 volts. However they tested it and it showed 480CCA which on a redtop it should be in the 900s.

I have a question... The starter should theoretically be grounded via the bolts to the engine block - correct?

From looking at the diagram for the starter it isn't clear whether or not if it needs to be grounded - http://www.powermastermotorsports.co..._GMMiniSta.pdf

It shows a visual diagram and it shows one of the posts and is marked "Motor".

Is it going to absolutely help me to ground this?

Brian

[Vegas69]

Brian....don't grount the solenoid with a seperate wire. It's grounded through the starter housing to the block. It will smoke!! The "motor" in the schematic is the starter motor. Basically where the starter motor connects to the solenoid. When in the cranking position you should see battery voltage at your switch terminal. Sounds like your battery is toast buddy.

[Vegas69]

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optim...specs.php#red1

[Ollie8974]

Well I just got back from the parts store and it seemed the batter was 100% charged w/ 13 volts. However they tested it and it showed 480CCA which on a redtop it should be in the 900s.

I have a question... The starter should theoretically be grounded via the bolts to the engine block - correct?


From looking at the diagram for the starter it isn't clear whether or not if it needs to be grounded - http://www.powermastermotorsports.co..._GMMiniSta.pdf

It shows a visual diagram and it shows one of the posts and is marked "Motor".

Is it going to absolutely help me to ground this?

Brian

That is correct, then the battery neg should be grounded to the engine block. There should be another ground from the block to the firewall.

[68sixspeed]

I'm not a fan of the optima's, I went through 2 of them and gave up. Not enough reserve to even set the valves on the camaro, had trouble starting it. I got a new one from the speed shop, same luck, put it in the vette, it couldn't sit 2 weeks in the warm garage without the computer draining it. Put Interstate lead acid batteries in both and have never had an issue. A co-worker had the same problems with the red top in his 68 big block pickup too.

If you can swap batteries with another vehicle it might prove it, but the 480ca test kind of shows that.

I have had issues where slow starting is the starter though, getting baked by the headers they only seem to last a few years.