Fwd: No-starto Duetto

["Bruce Blair" <bblair@domain.elided>]

> Hi Alfisti,
>
> Well, my saga with the Duetto continues.  The car wouldn't start a couple 
> weeks ago.  I removed the newly installed alternator and had it 
> checked.  It's just fine.  I reinstalled it with the charging wire going 
> straight to the battery positive terminal.  I charged the battery over 
> night and drove the car today.  Had the headlights on in the morning for 
> the 40 mile drive to work. No problems.  After work picked up my daughter 
> and made same drive home ( no headlights but a great blast through the 
> canyon ) with one stop for an hour for a haircut.  Got back in the car and 
> no start - not even a click of the solenoid.  Waited for wife and hooked 
> up the jumper cables.  No click even on the first two tries then it 
> started up perfectly.
>
> Perhaps when the old generator and regulator blew back in July it damaged 
> the battery ( I was getting over-voltage and burning high beam filaments ).
>
> How does one check the battery, other than replacing with a known good one 
> and seeing how it goes ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan
> 67 Duetto
> 74 GTV
Sounds more like a starter problem.    Solenoid?  Not sure what those old 
ones had, later ones were mounted on top of the starter.

Check your battery with a cheapo voltmeter  -  if you have 12v or more , 
you should get at least a click from the starter.
If not move on to the starter area with your voltmeter,  check for 12V on 
the battery wire on the starter.
If you got it there,  have someone turn the key to the start position and 
check for 12V on the small wire to the solenoid (either connected if you 
can get to it, or disconnect it and check for voltage on the end of the 
wire-  this is the activation wire.   If that's got 12V while the key is in 
the start position,  you most likely have a bad solenoid.
Otherwise, work backwards (electrically) toward the ignition switch 
following that wire.


Much better so do some simple diagnostics than spend a bunch of money 
trying various parts.


BruceB
Seattle
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