confused dashboard / starting isssues

[Antileon]

HI

1. When my lights are turned on, the indicators, brake lights, rev counter, gas meter, temp. meter, oil press. are all dead.
There is full power on battery, it is however possible by turning light on and off rapidly, to get everything back to life.

2. Out of the blue, the starter finds it difficult to turn the engine, it makes a few very poor tries and the gives up, just as you would get on a low battery, but the battery is fully charged.
I checked the ground on the battery and it is fine. later the same day it may start at first turn.

Since both problems are intermittent it is very difficult to analyze it, and I am not very experienced, but wish to learn.

Thanks for any help

[RRoller123]

First, check and clean the connections at all the ground pods. There are three of them, one on each of the inner front fenders, and one under the dash just above the steering column. They are circular pods with FastOn type connections.

Pete

[klweimer]

I'd also be suspicious of the ignition switch as all the power for these itms is running through it.
Kirk

[Antileon]

Could the starting issue be related to this also ?

could you be more precise of the point of the fenders ?

Thanks guys

[spider2081]

The primary ground connection is located on the left side of the car. I is spot welded to the body of the car under the drivers feet. It boltd to the flywheel cover at the bottom of the belhousing. If this ground is not in good condition it could cause your problem. Many people reattach this ground using one of the starter bolts.

[Antileon]

Hi Spider
I assume that you mean a connection on the understide of the car ? under the feet section there is a bolt, but nothing connected to it and no loose wires. I guess that there must be an alternative grounding or else it would never start, i must keep searching, ( not easy without a lift ) thanks for the tip.

[spider2081]

If the primary ground is not on place the clutch cable becomes an intermittent ground. This causes the clutch cable to fail sometimes from sticking to the outer sleeve and sometimes by breaking. There should be a wire about as big around as you battery cables that attaches the belhousing of the cars transmission to the cars body.