I have a 77 Comet straight six. My starter seems to have good bad, lights will work but when key is turned the lights go dead. I recently put a new battery in so it's not a battery problem. I'm assuming it's the starter since the engine won't crank at all. I need to know if I can swap in a used starter and if so what car models have the same starter as the 77 Comet. Thanks for any help. Lane
A foolproof way to diagnose this exact problem. Turn on the lights, then try to crank the engine. If the lights go out, the battery's dead. If they dont dim at all, then it's the starter or wiring. Just because a battery is new doesnt mean it's good...I've sold many brand new batteries that will show 13 volts open, but under a load, they'll drop to 2 or 3. Have yours tested at the place you got it from if possible. They'll test it for free, and if it's defective, they'll give you a new one too!
Hmmm Just a suggestion ... Have the battery checked and if its good try jumping the starter solinoid ... If it cranks replace the solinoid and if it doesnt check the wiring or ignition switch ... Its quite possible that the cables are corroded or broken ,
Got it fixed Thanks everyone, I tried Mavman's advice, and though my battery tested good, when I was taking it out I noticed that one of the bolts that held the battery cable together had fallen off. I got a new cable, and it started just fine. Boy, do I feel like an idiot for not noticing the battery cable problem. So rather than a new starter, all I needed was a four dollar part. Thanks again for taking the time. Lane p.s. For loopydog, it's a 250 straight six. Just a daily driver. Maybe in the future I can get a early seventies two-door.
lol Sometimes its hard to see the forest through the trees ... ... Ive been trying to get my lawn mower to crank ( just got it ) and i would turn the key and nothing ... i replaced the solinoid,ignition switch and the fuses before i realised that the brake has to be pressed before it'll start lol ... and you thought you feel stupid ?
Don't I know that feeling, I bought a new sending unit for my fuel problem a ways back and it turns out the problem was my Instrument Voltage Regulator all along, it was causing my fuel gauge to display a false reading so I didn't know my car was running out of gas (there was fuel in the tank but not enough for the sender to pick up), a free part at the Junk Yard . I spent over $60 for a sending unit I didn't need oh well the old one was rusty with a brittle filter that more or less fell off when I touched it so it's just as well I replaced it. The unit I bought from Auto Krafters is supposed to be resistant to corrosion from the new fuels.
