need a good shop in san diego

Well.... what have you tried? Why don't we try to figure it out so you can do it yourself? I'm only a couple hours from SD, I could help you out sometime. Is it spinning and not catching or...? Have you checked the timing? Fuel pump? Carburetor good? Spark plugs new or...? New wires? Give us some more feedback and we can help you out.

My kid who's in the Marines might have time to look at it. He lives off base in Fallbrook.

sick pony in San Diego

67boo2 said:

anyone know of someone who could help my life out. I can not figure out my mustangs sickness. It wont start seems either no gas or spark..I just need a good place to bring to..Thanks...

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I agree with the other posters. Lets try and figure out the problem.
But If you are not motivated to pursue that option what part of San Diego are you in? Im in the Mira Mesa/ Miramar area.
I know a few shops in the san diego area. one near me off Miramar Rd
Strooties Automotive 92520 Dowdy Dr. 858-689-8507

or the Mustang Shoppe in City Heights
4124 Poplar St San Diego, 92105 619-281-8173

I'm sure we could find another place depending on where you are.

But either of those options will mean towing it there and paying them to do the work. Neither of these places are the cheapest but they do know mustangs.

There are a few simple things to do to try it yourself.
but we'll need more info on your car
When was the last time it was running? How ole is the gas?
What engine is it. Do you still have points or is it electronic Ign?
Have you looked into the carb or pulled the line to see if you are pumping fuel?

Have you pulled a plug and checked if you are getting spark?

What exactly happens when you try to fire it up.

Either way good luck.

The problem doesn't sound "Mustang specific." Any decent auto shop should be able to figure it out. It sounds most likely electrical. We need more detailed symptoms besides "it won't start." Does the starter engage? Does the motor spin? Did you remove anything from the engine before this happened? Did anything else happen before this engine problem?

Mustang Auto and Classic Cars • 727 El Cajon Blvd. • El Cajon, CA 92020
619-440-3673

Does it crank when you jump it from a running engine? I've had those symptoms of losing a charge overnight even after changing alternators and batteries. Mine turned out to be the battery cables in both cases. Yes, I read 12 volts with the engine off and 14 volts with the engine running, but the full charge wasn't reaching the battery. Something to look into. Also maybe a slipping fan belt?

Battery cables could definately be the case. Could also be the diode in the alternator. I'm not sure I would trust Pep Boys!

Another good shop in that area is JMC Motorsports...
4783 Ruffner St. San Diego, California 92111 Phone (858) 268-2244

If your car does start and run I would think the fuel and spark are not the issue. It seems like an electrical problem and in addition to what everyone else said I would consider checking the starter. Definetly check it before you get a new one. If you can take off an alternator you can take off a starter. You probably know you can have it bench tested. If Manny Moe and Jack are questionable then perhaps take the starter and alternator to a Napa or Kragan or similar and have them both tested.

I have also heard of starting problems being related to timing that is off. But since both times you used a new battery everthing was fine I doublt that is the issue.

That doesn't leave much else than the battery cables. if they are old I would replace them not much $$. Next there is the solenoid and or voltage regulator.

I had a similar problem with sluggish starting. Even though battery and starter were 3-4 months old I was having symptoms that were similar to a dead battery. The motor would crank slowly and not start, eventually it got to the point where it would only click. But if I kept trying repeatedly the more times I tried consecutively to start it, it would build up momentum and eventually start. I had the battery tested under load and it was fine.

So I drove over to Napa and took out the starter right there in the parking lot and had it bench tested and turned out to be bad. Since it was still under waranty from Napa they gave me a new one and I put the new one in and no problems since.

If you still have the battery from Walmart have it checked not just for volts but test it under load. If it turns out to be good keep it as a spare just charge it up every month or two. If you don't already have a battery charger gete one it's a handy item to have.

BTW One thing I learned about batteries that you are storing. Never keep them right on the ground especially on cement. It will suck the life right out of it and kill it. Just put it up on at least a block of wood or up on a workbench.

One more thing I forgot. if car won't start the next morning after a new battery or charging it up you may have a short or open wire that is drawing a charge. Test the battery in the AM after it won't start and see if the battery has been sucked dead

Wait, did you figure it out or...?

The bolts on the battery cable clamps look old and rusty. Are the cables that old too? Also, those smaller red wires on the battery look like they have crimp on connectors which could be too loose. You really need a good electrical connection for the charge to make it to the battery. Personally, I don't trust crimped connections. I may use the connector, but I always solder the wire onto it. Good luck.

67boo2 said:

Last night I posted pics of charging my optima red. now look what happened this morning. Fully charged battery.

Well it started..Started with trouble as if it still has a weak battery. I let the car idle for 5mins then shut it off and on a few times with no problems.
Leads me with electrical problems...what the heck do i check for? I know if i keep the battery connected, the car wont start if it sits for a few hours, so i disconnected it.

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Let me understand this correctly. You charged the battery, but you did not say exactly when you reconnedted the battery back. Lets assume you put it back in right before you tried to start the car. If it acts like the battery is dead your either have a started that is on its way out or you dont have a good connection with the battery, such as cables or the crimps like 2nd mustang said. I can't see it on your negative connection but when they are old and have been cleaned a lot they get to where the two parts along the bolt touch each other and you cant tighten the nut anymore. There is a lead sleeve that you can put over the terminal for that.

Also I'm assuming that when you drive the car on a long trip your battery stays charged and the car will continue to start unless it sits for a while or overnight.

You mentioned that you tried to jump start it with no luck. I would think that it means 1)the power from the other car is not getting to your starting system again that could be bad cables and or connections. 2) the starter is going bad, and or 3) you battery is too drained to start your car even with a jump.

If all that is true at this point there are two things I would do.

1) This one is the easiest. Since you say the car won't start in the AM. When you know that your battery is fully charged, instead of leaving the battery connected overnight leave it disconnected then try it in the AM. See what happens. If the car starts with no hesitation then something in the car is drawing power overnight when the battery is connected.

2) Take out the starter and have it bench tested, as I mentioned before if it is old or as in my situation even a newly rebuilt starter, they can go bad and cause problems starting the car. Since you said your car acted like the battery was dead but eventually started this is what my bad starter did.

If the starter is OK and since you already checked the alt (in your photos with the car running it looks to me like at 14.57v your battery is being charged). As long as your cables and connections are good, then your situation sounds like something is drawing power when the car is off and the battery is still connected. I am not an electical expert but I would think doing some detective work with a meter is the thing to do next. Perhaps someone with more expertise in electic work can suggest where to start. I think with a meter you can test for shorts. Even though the battery cables may look good from the outside they can be bad on the inside. I think you can also check that with a meter, but again they are probably OK if the meter shows 14.57.

Keep us posted on what you find out.

If you go to JMC, ask for Seth to look at your car. Very nice, honest guy. Tell him he was recommended by way of Ken Russell' cousin. He'll know who you mean.