Starting Problems fro 1949 Cadillac

[Terryg57]

Engine will not turn crank or turnover. Lights come on exterior and interior. When starter buttonis pushed no sound from engine. Do I need a new starter switch, relay switch, or regulator?

[35-709]

Have you checked all the basics?  Leave the headlights on ---- do the lights dim when the starter button is pushed, or do they stay the same brightness.  If they dim it could be something as simple as corrosion between the battery post (either one or both) and the cable end, or corrosion at the grounding end of the cable where it attaches to the frame.  If they do not dim you might need a new starter solenoid, new starter switch, etc.  Have you also checked for a loose/bad wire at the starter motor?  How about the battery itself?  Loose/broken wire at the starter switch?  Could be a myriad of things, which makes it very difficult to diagnose something like that without being there.  From the phrasing of your question, you need a mechanic standing next to the car first.  Good luck.

[Glen]

I started to add my 2 cents, then decided I better check the shop manual first.  The ‘49s have an interesting starting circuit.

First you should check the neutral switch.  With your foot on the brake and your thumb on the starter button and the key on wiggle the gear shift lever.  If that gets a reaction the neutral switch is out of adjustment.   

The interesting part of the starting circuit is the way they rigged it to prevent engaging the starter if the engine is running.  When the key is on, the shift lever is in neutral and the starter button is pressed battery voltage is sent to one side of a relay coil.  The other side of the coil is grounded through the generator. If the engine is running the generator (even at idle) is builds up an “opposing voltage”.  This prevents the relay contacts from closing.  The relay contacts energize the starter solenoid. 

So if the problem is not the neutral switch then it could be the wiring to the generator or the relay itself.  This relay is mounted in the solenoid housing on the starter. 

Hope all that helps.

Glen 

[Terry Graham]

Thank you, it was something as simple as a loose wire conecting to the solenoid.