I'm having trouble with the ignition of my 32 Sedan Delivery. When I try to start it, it sounds like the battery is dead. A check of the battery shows it's charged (6.03 volts on the voltmeter.) This happens intermittently, but frequent enough that it keeps me from trusting it at a car show. Sometimes it will start, I drive it a few miles, then bring it home. When I try to start it the next time, I get a "wump" and no ignition. But I can go in a couple days later, and it starts. I don't know where to start looking for potential problems. Any ideas? - Jeff
There are lots of potential causes for hard starting.
It would help if you provide more details. It appears that the problem is that the engine will not always turn over when you activate the starter.
My first suspicion is that the battery is near the end of it life. A fully charged 6 volt battery should read 6.3 to 6.4 volts.
Another common issue is the use of battery cables intended for 12 volt systems. They are too small to carry the amperage required for a 6 volt starter.
Check the contact points on the starter switch. Every time you start the engine there is an arc that creates a deposit on one contact and a pit on the other. Over time this material transfer creates resistance to current flow.
One last item is the starter itself. You did not describe the history or what work has been done on it.
Another possibility is a dirty connection in the starter circuit, clean all contacts from the battery to the starter, starter to engine and engine back to the battery. Tony
