Been enjoying the 77 Maverick all summer . I planned to pull her into the garage come this winter but didn't want to do anything until then....she has been running and looking so good . So, since it is going to get up to upper 70s this week, which is not bad for October in Ohio I thought I would get dome nice drives out of her. Took her out today, stopped at a client of mine, got out went to start her up and man sounded like I had the pedal to the floor ......turn the key off immediately and the noise continued....I jumped out lifted the hood and still lound noise ....I beieve it was the starter frozed up...but wouldn't stop even with the key off...so...and I know I should not have but ....I turn the key, she started right up and I drove with that started still screaming (had no tools at all on me to disconnect the battery), thought I could make it back home but after about 20 miles she simply stopped. NO power (electrical) at all, dead battery...no lights nothing. Had it towed home and going to look at her tommorow....my guess is it is the starter...but why the battery died I am not sure...No relays or fuses in these ...are there..Going to pull the starter, check or replace the battery and go from there....comments welcomed.
I agree....I thought of flywheel damage right off the bat.....had no or very little choice.....with no tools......and I always carry a set, just cleaned that trunk out the day before thinking I would have no more long drives.....anyway didn't have much of a choice....popped the hood, was hoping the battering terminals were loose to take power away...no luck....either sit there with the starter screaming away or drive her towards home.....headed home...tow cost me $70.00, but that probably is the least of my cost......maybe an early tear town....I just wonder why that batter went dead...I realize the continue power going to it and the draw off the battery...but she was a new battery.
I've seen a lot of starter relays stick keeping the starter ingaged, but with the engine dead, the sound was the same as when cranking the engine. I can understand the screaming noise if the starter was stuck in crank mode with the engine running. starter would be turning about a million mph.
Not to make you feel bad, but a good smack with anything, would have probably unstuck the starter switch! You will most likely need a new starter and flexplate. Your battery should be Ok, just make sure you recharge it. Don't let it sit discharged ( it will be ruined ). The reason the battery went dead is that the starter draws 5 times the current the alternator can supply! You may want to check your alternator and it's fuse link when you get everything checked out. It was basically trying to charge through a dead short! Good luck on it! I had this happen once, but I smacked the starter switch with my knife so it was only engaged about 5 seconds. I had no damage. I hope you don't either!
Very few top post battery terminals that I have not been able to twist and remove. It's stiff to the touch but you grab it and twist like you mean it and it does come off. Anyway, lets hear what happened
Well, I drove to the car for a meeting.....I was in a shirt and tie, dress clothes, battery cables are on with some very good quality "brass" clips, tight......other wires were tight and probably if I would have jerked them like a gorilla one of them would have broken....couldn't reach down and smack (done it many times) simply because of the circumstances......thought if I drive her she will release, sort of like a smack...didn't and there you go. Hoping it is just the starter and maybe battery now that she was drained all the way home on the tow....as for the alternator fuse link..haven't looked but where would that be located...
Man, I just told my body that I should have bought the easy "turn" disconnect cables they had at the swap meet....was going back to get them and simply forgot...just mentioned them today, would have worked great....
Battery going dead makes me think the starter solenoid on the inner fender was stuck or still powered. Otherwise, the starter wouldn't be getting any juice. Stuck solenoid that engages the starter gear would keep the starter engaged but wouldn't draw a lot of current.
I have the battery on charge as we speak.....can't work on it tonight (plans) but first thing tomorrow going to put juice back to her see what happens, then go from there. I am hoping a new starter, maby solenoid and battery., I am just hoping that I didn't screw up the flywhee.
Ok, she's back on the road. As I orignially stated (see past post), I believed the Starter froze up on my 77 Maverick, 250 IL and couldn't get it unstuck so drove her until it died. Towed her home, put her up on jack stands and began the repairs. The next day I went out, pulled the battery, placed it on charge. Removed the Solenoid (starter relay to some), Voltage Regulator and Starter. Good news, flywheel (flexplate to some) was good, no damage noted. Figured if I am going to change the Starter might as well change the other components. So, New Starter, New Solenoid, New Voltage Regulator. Started the job at Noon, removing the parts, little cleaning, going to get the parts and replacing...Done and took it for a test run by 3:00 in the afternoon, not bad. Easy job but took some pics and will attempt to post simply to explain how easy the job can be. Strange thing though, since I replaced all the components, she starts strangely "quick", no gas pump, no hesitation, scary quick...wonding if the new voltage regulator is throughing strong current to the ignition system (no points in this model)....simply starting immediately. Anyway, thats it, take care.
