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Richy04
02-20-2013, 08:42 AM
Sorry I haven't been around, since the summer, I have been going thru some serious family issues.

I ran into an interesting problem with my Marauder. If you have a no start condition, PATS ok, but it will not start.. Read on..

This problem manifested itself as the typical "dead battery" sound of multiple rhythmic clicks from the starter selenoid, then she would start.

Then it wouldn't start at all. When you try to jump the starter from underneath, there would be no action at all although there was clearly juice on the + side. Check the ground strap behind the motor, it is probably broken. You may not know this, some of you will.. The Motor is totally isolated from the chassis and body and the only connection to ground is through the straps. When the ground strap rots or burns up from the current draw, you have no negative at the engine so it is floating above ground. Hence she will not turn over. Everything from the exhaust, the motor mounts, trans, rear is isolated by rubber.

You may also notice an alternator light, nutty idiot lights and the two gauges in the pod by the shifter are not working. Before you go crazy, check those straps. Even though there is a ground at the battery and other places, the motor derives ground only through the ground straps.

I hope this helps as these cars are getting older and those straps are getting weak from corrosion, age, and vibration.

CBT
02-20-2013, 08:44 AM
Interesting! :beer:

WhatsUpDOHC
02-20-2013, 11:38 AM
Is this information "Sticky Worthy"?

Good stuff!!:beer:

fastblackmerc
02-20-2013, 11:54 AM
Do you mean the ground from the top of the cam cover to the firewall?

marauder410
02-20-2013, 12:52 PM
when my ground from the cam cover to the firewall burnt up my car would start just EVERYTHING was acting crazyy but car did start

Blackened300a
02-21-2013, 08:49 AM
Learned this when I removed the front fenders from my parts car and it wouldn't even crank. I connected several of the fender grounds that are held on by the green screws inside the fenders to a single wire and grounded it to the body then it fired right up.

Richy04
02-24-2013, 08:38 PM
when my ground from the cam cover to the firewall burnt up my car would start just EVERYTHING was acting crazyy but car did start

This can happen if something in the drive train is touching metal, normally though there is no connection between the motor all the way to the rear except thru ground straps. I only found the one to the cam cover, if there are others I didn't see it, plus it was 30 degrees out.

I will address it if there is another when I can start wearing my Hawaiian shirts, shorts and white shoes again...

Richy04
02-24-2013, 08:42 PM
Do you mean the ground from the top of the cam cover to the firewall?


yes that one