The Ford Barn

Kenjt · 08-15-2022, 06:40 PM

Funny you should ask. The mechanic came by the other day to make try to figure out why the car died. I had it on a charger for several days but hadn't tried starting it. He got in and it started right up. We drove around for a while and then brought it back. The engine was off and so was the key. Suddenly the horn sounded a few times. Clearway there is a propblem with the main switch. We got it back to his shop and, hopefully, he'll figure it out and fix it. The electrical system is way beyond me.

Kenjt · 08-19-2022, 12:29 PM

AT LAST my car is starting and driving okay. My mechanic put in a new belt for the generator and a better bracket to hold it in place. He also found some electric issues and repaired them. The amp meter shows charging for a little while while driving and then goes to zero. The battery takes a charge overnight. The car still running a little rough but, I'm discovering the best place to move the spark control and throttle to keep it running well. Hopefully all repairs are done and I won't have to call my mechanic anytime soon.

nkaminar · 08-19-2022, 12:44 PM

Good news Ken. The Model A is a reliable car if all the bugs are chased out. Enjoy your car.

I would be interested to know what "electrical issues" your mechanic found. Did he/she make a list of what they did?

katy · 08-20-2022, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenjt

My mechanic put in a new belt for the generator and a better bracket to hold it in place.

Let's hope that he didn't overtightened the belt, it doesn't need to be very tight.

Penguin · 04-28-2023, 08:40 AM

I had a similar problem with my 31 Tudor. I had replaced the head gasket, started her to let her warmup, then shut down and let her cool overnight so I could retorque the head. Did that the next day and started her up for a quick drive. I made it to the bottom of the driveway, and she stopped. I figured out I had no spark and could make no progress at the bottom of the driveway, so I got some friends to help get her back up the hill and into the garage.

Over the next few weeks I wiggled, tested or replaced everything under the hood with no success. I read an item, I believe it was on this site, about someone with a similar problem who had decided to replace every wire in the ignition system and that worked. I thought that was a little extreme as his car was fixed but he didn't know what was really wrong. I went ahead and ordered what wiring I hadn't replaced already and figured I'd change one at a time. The first wire I replaced was the armored cable from the switch to the distributor. (I do not have a popout so I use one of the fake replacements to make things under the hood look, more or less, authentic.) When I disconnected the cable from the distributor, I just happened to press the button at the distributor end. The button stuck up in the cable, the spring did not return it to the proper position. I had that cable disconnected several times and never noticed the problem. I replaced the cable, being sure to screw it in too far, and the car has been running fine ever since. I have added that check to my list of "this hasn't happened to me before." That list keeps getting longer and longer. I know this won't help now but maybe it will help someone in the future.

Kenjt · 04-28-2023, 09:02 AM

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Just about everything in my car is now fixed!!! Only thing left is a few gaskets to stop small leaks and replace the gas gauge float. My car starts right up all the time and runs great! At last I'm back to where I was so many years ago with my last Model A. Thanks to all for your suggestions and help.

08-15-2022, 06:40 PM	#21
Kenjt Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 85	Re: Car would not restart Funny you should ask. The mechanic came by the other day to make try to figure out why the car died. I had it on a charger for several days but hadn't tried starting it. He got in and it started right up. We drove around for a while and then brought it back. The engine was off and so was the key. Suddenly the horn sounded a few times. Clearway there is a propblem with the main switch. We got it back to his shop and, hopefully, he'll figure it out and fix it. The electrical system is way beyond me.

08-19-2022, 12:29 PM	#22
Kenjt Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 85	Re: Car would not restart AT LAST my car is starting and driving okay. My mechanic put in a new belt for the generator and a better bracket to hold it in place. He also found some electric issues and repaired them. The amp meter shows charging for a little while while driving and then goes to zero. The battery takes a charge overnight. The car still running a little rough but, I'm discovering the best place to move the spark control and throttle to keep it running well. Hopefully all repairs are done and I won't have to call my mechanic anytime soon.

08-19-2022, 12:44 PM	#23
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,918	Re: Car would not restart Good news Ken. The Model A is a reliable car if all the bugs are chased out. Enjoy your car. I would be interested to know what "electrical issues" your mechanic found. Did he/she make a list of what they did? __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-28-2023, 08:40 AM	#25
Penguin Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Luray, Virginia Posts: 2	Re: Car would not restart I had a similar problem with my 31 Tudor. I had replaced the head gasket, started her to let her warmup, then shut down and let her cool overnight so I could retorque the head. Did that the next day and started her up for a quick drive. I made it to the bottom of the driveway, and she stopped. I figured out I had no spark and could make no progress at the bottom of the driveway, so I got some friends to help get her back up the hill and into the garage. Over the next few weeks I wiggled, tested or replaced everything under the hood with no success. I read an item, I believe it was on this site, about someone with a similar problem who had decided to replace every wire in the ignition system and that worked. I thought that was a little extreme as his car was fixed but he didn't know what was really wrong. I went ahead and ordered what wiring I hadn't replaced already and figured I'd change one at a time. The first wire I replaced was the armored cable from the switch to the distributor. (I do not have a popout so I use one of the fake replacements to make things under the hood look, more or less, authentic.) When I disconnected the cable from the distributor, I just happened to press the button at the distributor end. The button stuck up in the cable, the spring did not return it to the proper position. I had that cable disconnected several times and never noticed the problem. I replaced the cable, being sure to screw it in too far, and the car has been running fine ever since. I have added that check to my list of "this hasn't happened to me before." That list keeps getting longer and longer. I know this won't help now but maybe it will help someone in the future.

04-28-2023, 09:02 AM	#26
Kenjt Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 85	Re: Car would not restart Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just about everything in my car is now fixed!!! Only thing left is a few gaskets to stop small leaks and replace the gas gauge float. My car starts right up all the time and runs great! At last I'm back to where I was so many years ago with my last Model A. Thanks to all for your suggestions and help.