Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

First off I’m no mechanic. Any help will be appreciated. Put new battery in it. Old one I thought was bad. Lights will turn on but as soon as I try to start everything shuts off. Like dead short? Or? I do not know help! Chris

Every thing shuts down is a high current event or a really bad or loose connection.
By a new battery, does that mean from the store or just another battery. Make sure its fully charged and connects are tight and clean.
Your starter could be jammed. Put the car in 4th, take off the hand brake and rock the car back and forth a few times.
When you go to start the car, do you get a large click?
Was the car running and this happen all of a sudden?

Brand new battery. It gets one click then nothing. I let it sit it started 2 months ago. Chris

Why would battery go from charged enough to turn lights on to dead in one turn of ignition. Charging battery now. Cleaned the posts connections there was some crud left over but clean now. We will try again later

Had that happen once a long time ago. The shop that sold the battery just put the electrolytes in and did a quick charge.
My car initially started and worked fine. Left the car for a few weeks and I guess the clock drained the weak initial charge.
Did the same as you and just the the car went dead.

Had to trickle charge the battery at least 24 hours to bring it up to where it should be. Was fine after that and would hold the charge for long periods of time when not used.

Now when I buy a new battery, I ensure that its trickled charged to make sure its up to snuff.

Cheers
Ray B.

I would also check to make sure the wiring harness connection above the starter motor is well connected. I’ve had that happen where the connection isn’t tight at that white plug. Disconnect and reconnect that plug might help. Or not. Just a thought.

Is there only the fuse box in glove box? Is there another spot where a fuse might be?

I would suspect either black corrosion on the clamps, or a poor ground.

After your one click and then dead battery, did you try the lights again? If you did and the lights did not work and you wiggled the battery clamps and the lights still did not work then either the battery has no charge or it’s defective. New defective batteries do happen.

Thanks everyone for suggestions. I’m trickle charging battery and will try tomorrow. I cleaned everything really good. We will see.

I have had this happen more than once, mainly on my old tractors. It doesn't take much terminal connection to run the lights, but it takes all of it to turn the starter. When a connection gets weak enough, instead of the starter turning the poor connection will arc and carbon is deposited in the connection making it even worse or totally insulated. All connections need to be shiny clean.

Cllishof wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:55 pm Thanks everyone for suggestions. I’m trickle charging battery and will try tomorrow. I cleaned everything really good. We will see.

I suggest Ted or one of the other north end roadster people go help you.

Check the connections at the starter also, as well as all the engine grounds.

I second the engine grounds. It could be that once the current gets to the starter, it has nowhere to go so it can't flow. I had that a number of years ago on my roadster and I found that the electricity was returning through the choke cables. Not enough current capacity and bad for the cables.
Make sure that he starter BODY has a good connection back to the battery.

Re did ground.
Re did battery connections
New battery
Put in 4th brake off rocked back and forth
Trickle charged battery over night.........
Started right up. Thanks you guys re awesome. Chris