Why doesn't my car run?!?! HELP, Electrical problems suck.... Options

[ojai914]

OK, I just picked up a '70 1.7L and it didn't run. I narrowed it down to electrical problems, and I just replaced the distributer cap and rotor, charged the battery and got it tested, replaced the spark plug wires and coil, and made sure everything looked good. However it still doesn't work.

I tried sparking the starter motor to make it run, and even that didn't get it to turn over.

Now the really weird thing is that yesterday, I got it to turn over first try by just turning the key but now it won't do that. Does anyone have suggestions or pointers of things I can look at? Help a n00b out, please.

Thanks,
Mark

[Dr. Roger]

IMHO,

i'd start with:
clean battery terminals and battery posts.
ensure ground strap is shiny clean and conected to body and transaxle.
ensure clean and secure cable to starter
starter switch at steerign column are notorious for going bad. mine was....
so are solenoids.

at this point you should be able to jump the solenoid.

do you get a "click" at the solenoid?

if you get a click, a light smack with a hammer sometimes frees a stuck solenoid.

if you don't get a click, the solenoid is toast.

also check and clean all fuses...
that's a start. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)