1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Just happened out of the blue! Shut the truck off, 5 minutes later I tried to start it again and it clicked once! I cleaned the battery terminals and cables and not even a click this time! With the lights on I turn the key and the lights dim but no click! I checked the battery with a meter and it says its charged! I even tried jumping it so I'm assuming the start solenoid is bad or the key switch maybe? Any idea's?

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

My 75 did the samething. I replaced the park neutral switch and it fixed it for a few weeks then the ignition switch went out on the column. Both are real cheap I would change them both.
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Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

i would pull the starter and take it to an autoparts store and have them test it you may have fried the windings

to me it sounds like your getting power to the starter but its just not turning


question: do you smell somthing like hot copper and plastic?

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

It has a 454 w/ turbo 400, it will start in gear so the nuetral safety switch shouldnt be an issue! I hit the starter solenoid with a hammer while a buddy turned the key and nothing, sthe only thing I havent tried is jumping straight to the solenoid with junper cables! If it doesnt turn over then its obviously the solenoid or starter right?
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Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

When you drop the starter, check the connections. I had a small wire break at the eyelet and was not visible until I disconnected the wires.

If it turns out to be something simple, a new NSS wouldn't hurt and is relatively cheap.

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Took my starter to Autozone and it's ok but my battery tested bad! How accurate is their test equipment and legit is Autozone? Reason I'm asking is the manager offered to sell me a used battery he had in the back, didn't realize they sold used battery's!

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Put a wrench on the crank bolt and make sure the engine turns freely, lots of things can happen.

THe click at the starter and the dimming of the head lights indicates the neutral safety switch and ignition switch are doing their job. If I had any doubt I would test for power at the small wire when the key was turned to the start position. Also check your cables good for cracking and swelling corrosion can build up on the inside and starve power, usually there are warnings of slow starting before failure.

As far as Autozone, there equipment is good IF operated properly. As far as the honesty and knowledge of the individual, it's a coin flip I have seen some knowledgeable guys and I have seen button pushers. Not aware of them selling used batteries either. You can test the start off the engine with a set of jumper cables, it's not under load but you can usually tell if it has an issue.

Good luck!

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Wow, now I'm concerned! It was idling fine when shut off so I never thought the engine could be seized, it wasn't knocking or overheating! I'll check my oil and try to manually turn the engine before I buy a battery! Oh, the truck would start in any gear so doesn't that mean the NSS was bad or not installed? Because the reason for the NSS in the first place is for it to NOT start in gear or am I wrong?

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Yes, it should not be starting in gear. Are you saying that it will start in gear but not in neutral or park?

When you put the starter back in, with the key off, jump the main positive wire on the starter solenoid with the start terminal on the solenoid. It should roll over. If it does, then your issue is in the column somewhere and I would start with that NSS.

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

No, it does start in park, neutral and 1, 2, 3, I don't think I ever tried reverse! Where exactly is the NSS and when found how do I test it? It's not on the transmission?

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

It's at the base of the steering column on the top.
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Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Check this out, even after Autozone saying my battery is bad I decided to put the starter and battery back in to see if it would start and it did! So I'm assuming it was a bad connection! So a word to the wise for all Autozone fans, don't believe everything they say and especially their test equipment!

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

Sorry im late to the party, you had every issue I did (including the autozone expirence). My issue was the ground on the back of the firewall.
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Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

More than likely the starter hung on the flywheel, make sure it is shimmed correctly. Always good to have it back on the road either way.

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

No shims, not one! It doesn't squeal and sounds perfectly normal! Am I supposed to have shims?

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

If you don't need them, you don't (shims).
Most Chevy' I've had over the years, didn't need them.

Re: 1973 C/20 454 wont turn over!
 

It is possible for a battery to test good with a volt meter and fail under load. It is also possible for a battery to be able to start your engine but still be a bad battery. The machine at Autozone not only load tests the battery but it also tests for CCA and reserve capacity. If your battery is rated at 700CCA but only tests at 500CCA then it is a bad battery, though 500CCA may be enough to start your engine.

You mentioned earlier about used batteries at Autozone, yes this is done at some stores but it is up the the store's manager. Some are new batteries that were returned after the customer figured out the problem was a bad starter. Some are actually used batteries that were perfectly good but the customer had a under laying charging system issue.