Old Lincoln Starting Problem

[Greg]

My son's '86 Town Car has suddenly started giving him electrical problems. It has a nearly new battery and started fine up to a couple days ago. When it first acted up, I gave him a jump and suggested that he take it to the local garage we've been using because it seemed that something was draining the battery when the car was off. A friend suggested that he pull a cable off the battery when the car was running to see if the alternator wasn't working and the car kept running. Now he can't even jump the car. The chimes sound, but there are no cranks or clicks when he turns the key. Suggestions?

[Shaners]

Starter/Selonoid or a bad cable or battery.

 

A dead short in the battery will prevent even jump starting sometimes. Pull the battery and have it load tested. AutoZone will do this for free.

 

If the battery checks out then tap on the starter and selenoid with a wrech and see if starts.

 

Check all the cables for corrosion and wear.

 

Usually if you pull the Neg cable off the battery and then touch it back to the post and there is a good spark, then that means there is a draw on the battery. (Do this when the car isn't running).

 

I would think that if there was a problem with the charging system, that there would be some sort of check light on the dash (It's a Lincoln!!!)