1982 Chevy El Camino Won't start after new battery

KWTANNER

MEMBER
1982 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

Jump the old, dead battery and it started; didn't hold a charge after running for 30-40 minutes.
Jumped it again and accicently left the ignition switch on. Smoke came from area near alternator bracket where jumper cable was connected. After that it would not turn over and no lights or horn.
Replaced battery. Now have lights and horn but no radio. No apparent burned wiring and no lingering odor.
Checked some of the fuses and none appeared to be bad.
I have limited experience but can replace an alternator and maybe a starter. Just want to narrow the problem down to deternine if it is something I can do or not.
Thanks for your help. KT

5 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the donation. Are you saying the starter won't crank? If you saw smoke, something burned? I saw a wiring diagram for starter circuit. below. You need to use a testlite on the fuse circuit, even if the fuse is good, if no voltage, the circuit is dead. Make sure battery has a full charge and connections are good.

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Sunday, February 7th, 2010 AT 2:57 PM

KWTANNER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The starter won't crank.
I'm not sure if I have the right test light and it's been years since I used one.
If the alternator was shorted out would the starter not crank. I could have the alternatore tested.

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Sunday, February 7th, 2010 AT 9:27 PM

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

The pointed end of 12 volt test lite, touch to bare wire, penetrate the insulation if you have too, that's what the point is for. The other end has to be grounded. If the circuit is hot, the lite comes on. There is no polarity on a 12 volt testlite, you can't hook it up wrong.

The autostore will test the starter if you take it to them. I hesitate to tell people to jump the starter solenoid, to see if starter will crank, because of possible safety issues. You need to be sure the tranny is in park or neutral and a functional e-brake is set. Doesn't matter what type tranny, it still applies.

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Monday, February 8th, 2010 AT 9:36 AM

KWTANNER

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks, that give me a starting point. (No pun intended.)
I have jumped tested a starter before.
What's got me is the clock, headlights and horn work but not the radio, turn signals, or AC/Heater fan.

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Monday, February 8th, 2010 AT 11:08 AM

JDL