Won't start

[Motorhead350]

Alright this isn't my Marauder it's my truck again and I'm sure this is simple so I will talk all the help I can get. I went to start this thing today and as soon as I put it in gear it died. When I went to start it up again it wouldn't turn over or anything. Other things went out too like the power locks and windows yet the interior lights and headlights still worked. If you leave the key in it with the drivers door open or the headlights on it will usually make a buzz sound, but the sound is much lower now. Is it the starter or some type of fuse under the hood? This a brand new crate engne by the way so everything is new. Thanks and hope I can fix this in 12 hours! :o

[gpfarrell]

Assuming the battery is fully charged....

Check the ground.

Is the cable tight on the battery?

Is the ground cable making good connection with the engine block?

Hook one end of a jumper cable up to your negative terminal and then ground the other end to a good, big ground. Try the frame, the engine, and something on the body. This is an easy way to test for a weak ground, and that will cause all kinds of problems... just like the ones you list.

Good luck!

[sabtaj1]

exactly what he said. Since installing the new crate motor it sounds like you have a ground problem. check your ground and maybe add another. good luck.

[magindat]

Ground is everything. It affects the spark, lights, accessories, everything.

I strap everything together. From the negative post I run a separate strap to the block, frame and body. I use no less than a 4 guage or equivalent cable. Further, in a hidden place, I strap the body to the frame and strap the block to the body. Many accessories and lights pick their ground up from the body or frame, therefore they need to carry good ground. Last, but not least, if you ground all this well, there will be no resistance between any electrical items which is the number one cause of noise.
Everything will run better and brighter and you'll get more spark energy through the coil.

Ground, ground, ground.....

Good luck!

[Motorhead350]

Lets hope thats the problem. I had the thing towed and it won't be fixed until monday. I would do it, but when I followed the wire it was blocked off by some type of guard from stone or something sense it was under the truck. Anyway I'm very sure it's an easy fix, but it's very frustrating it'ssomething so simple to fix and I couldn't find it. But hey I got my Marauder back today so I'm happy about that.

[Zack]

Its sounds like a fusible link failed at the starter.
A lot of imes they fail due to corrosion, not an overload.
Id check that first

[Motorhead350]

It was actually a cable connected to the starter that was rotted. It was cleaned up and replaced and it now runs again. Now I gotta find a way to get the Marauder back into storage for the winter.