So, Ive got an 86 GXL N/A and its been sitting for about 5 years.

I can turn the E-shaft and nothing is seized. All belts are moving, as are all pulleys.

When I put the key in the ignition and turn it, no lights turn on, but a few clicks under the hood happen. Still no lights or beeps on the dash though.

The clicking is like an electrical sound too. The fuel pump doesn't sound like its priming either.

When I turn the ignition it doesn't crank, or do anything.

(The clicking isn't repetitive either, it's just things turning on i think)

Lights like the dome light and door lights come on, headlights work, horn doesn't though.

I put gas line anti-freeze in and a gallon of new gas too.

I also gave the starter a good whack with a mallet too just out of frustration.

Any ideas on whats making it so stubborn or should i just do a tune up and go from there?

Thanks

 

Is the battery fully charged / new?

 

Sounds like a weak/dead battery. How was it running before it sat?

 

Battery was perfect, took it out of my FD to try in the FC.


Im not sure how it was running before it sat. They guy I got it from said it ran but never really drove it, it could of sat for a few years before that too.

 

Fuses? Did it sit in a field by any chance?

 

A battery might be in great shape but the connections to it, the starter and the fender body ground might not be. You can try bridging the positive battery terminal on the starter to the starter solenoid terminal and the starter should engage each and every time these two terminals are bridged. If that is good to go then you could bring voltage from the battery to the Black/White wire which powers the starter solenoid that is found near the trailing coil likely at the starter cut relay. This relay has but one plug and it guides voltage to the solenoid on the starter. If this B/W wire is powered then it should engage the starter.

 

The car was sitting outside, not necessarily in a field. I think it spent most of its life in a driveway, But we do get a lot of snow where I'm from.

Ill try all the connections and see if that works. Ill check all the fuses too.

 

By the way, I left out some info that may be important.

The clutch pedal is on the floor and there is no spring back. Does this effect the switch?

Also I just found out that the car HAS been sitting for 5 years since it was last started. And it was sitting for Seven years before that.

So 12 years or so with one or two starts.

 

the clutch has an interlock switch which prevents the car from starting unless the clutch is depressed. There are two switches off the clutch assembly, the cruise control switch and the interlock, the interlock switch is on the backside near the firewall. Check to make sure it is being depressed or jumper the connection for the time being.


If the car has been sitting for this long i would have a look at the condition of the fuel tank and drain any existing old fuel out in favor for new stuff.

 

Make sure all grounds are good, make sure the starter and the block is grounded well.