Changed Battery, Started and Drove, Today No Power

Tiny
RINGKING
  • MEMBER
  • 1970 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
  • 50,000 MILES
I am taking care of my dad's 1970 El Camino while he is out of the country for two years. It is the SS, original numbers matching car that has been nicely restored.

I changed the battery 1 month ago. Went out to start it today, (I'm supposed to start it every month), and there is no power, no click, no attempt to start as if a fuse is blown. I charged the battery to no avail, still the same.

I see the fuse panel near the brake, but have no idea which fuse to change or what all the abbreviations mean. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I did trace all the lines from the battery and none of them were pinched or damaged, and the connections were good and tight.
Saturday, August 18th, 2012 AT 11:07 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
First you need to test the battery and a volt meter s required. A bad battery cannot be charged as it would not hold charge.

Are the dash indicators lights coming on when ignition switch is turned on?
Are the headlights and horn working?
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Saturday, August 18th, 2012 AT 11:10 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Inspect and test the fusible link/s at the starter motor-start here
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Saturday, August 18th, 2012 AT 11:35 PM
Tiny
RINGKING
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
It's a new battery now, auto zone just tested, it's ok. Nothing works, not the horn, acc lights, gauges, glove box light etc.
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Saturday, August 18th, 2012 AT 11:44 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the battery is good and nothing works, that means something is wrong with the connections or main fusible links, which should be underhood and not underdash.
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Saturday, August 18th, 2012 AT 11:46 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
There's a wire on the starter that's bulky looking test it with a test lite before and after it-lite don't come on-its blown
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Sunday, August 19th, 2012 AT 12:09 AM
Tiny
RINGKING
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
Where are main fusible links underhood? Can a follow a wire to them? It doesn't look like there are any within 2 feet of the battery on either of the lines.
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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Its down at the starter motor battery terminal a wire with a buldge on it-this is the fusible link
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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 2:39 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
I'M GOING WITH CONNECTIONS!!!!......I SEE THIS DAILY!

AT THE BATTERY OR AT THE STARTER

SEE MY "AGGRESSIVE POST" FROM A WHILE BACK

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

I'LL SEND MORE PICS REAL SOON

THE MEDIC
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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 3:12 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
MAYBE I COULDA SAVED YOU SOME $$$ IF I'D BEEN IN TOWN A FEW HOURS AGO

HERE'S MY PICS

THE MEDIC
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Monday, August 20th, 2012 AT 4:47 AM
Tiny
RINGKING
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
I have followed all the wires from the battery, and there are no fusible links in any of them, just a lot of electrical tape from what I can see, but none of the twist connections that could house a fuse inside. It was running great before, so now I'm really stumped. What else could I try to get this thing started every month or so?
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Saturday, September 1st, 2012 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
How mny wires do you have coming out of the battery positive terminal?
Where the battery positive terminal connects to the stater motor, how many wires are there?
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Saturday, September 1st, 2012 AT 7:34 PM

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