So after I fixed my coolant leak last night and changed my oil, I decided to take my FB through the local touch-free car wash. My car doesn't idle if it's cold (idle is set at 500rpm, need to bump that up), and it's too chilly here for it to get up to operating temperature, and she died just as I got through the undercarriage wash. I went to hit the ignition, and all power cut to my FB. I released the key, and got all power back. So my room mate and I pushed my FB into position, hopped in, and let the wash do it's thing. We then pushed it through the high-power blowers, out into the street and bump started my FB. It's an 85 and my fuel pump and tach work, so i know that it's not a blown trailing ignitor. I have replaced my fusible links with BUSS fuses, and none of them are blown. After I finish eating my breakfast I'm going to go out and start hunting for where it is grounding out. I have a feeling that it's in the starter solenoid, because I only loose all power when I turn my key to the "start" position, and it drains over ~1 second, not instantly. Am I on the right track, or should I look elsewhere?

 

Right track.

Starter short bypassing the starter motor current output from the solenoid to ground; no fuse link blew because there's no fuse link for that feed, just a big fat wire from the battery positive to the starter. Water's getting in your solenoid or starter motor, most likely.

Whenever you see that symptom, don't hold the key too long or you will blow the battery or melt something expensive.

Problem might clear on it's own as things dry out, but you should find the source of the leak, otherwise the next big puddle could do it to you.

 

thanks for the suggestion. My starter is still under warranty , so I ordered another one today. I'm going to clean out my starter and solenoid today with some parts cleaner to hopefully be able to drive it this weekend.

 

It's fixed. All dry. Jumped her and took her out for a drive :-D

 

Cool beans.