Posted a note a few days ago regarding my '65 Couple dying in a parking lot. Replaced the solenoid, but no go. As we were towing the stinking thing home, the battery died. Put a charger on the battery and the car fired right up. Wouldn't stay running (only charged for a short time to see if it would start). So, looks like the battery may be the issue.

Question for the forum: Would the blinkers, headlights, brake lights, etc., be dim while the car is running IF the battery is not up to snuff? Is all the charge going to keep the engine running? Could the alternator not be doing its job?

Now, we'll see what happens next. Gotta love a 42yo car...

 

Sounds likeit could bea couple things. It sounds like your battery is not holding a charge or the alternator is not producing any juice for the recharge. A trick that you could try is sticking a piece of metal to the back of the alternator and see if it is magnatized. It does not work all the time there is a second part of the alternator that can go bad but it is still a good check.

 

Cool. Hope it is just a few bad cells in the battery, which is a hell of a lot easier to replace. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

 

No problem

 

Never heard of that before! pull the pos cable off of the battery, if the alternator is working the car will stay running. if it dies, the alt or regulator is bad. (this assumes it's a 65 with an alternator).

 

Just so I have this right:

1. Start the car.
2. Take the positive battery cable off the battery while it is running.
3. See if it keeps running.

If so, then it is likely a battery issue.
If not, then it might be the alternator.

Funky...

 

yep, its one of those little tricks you use when you're "turning wrenches" for a living. the science is sound enough> If the alternator is not puting out voltage, the car will die because you've removed power from the coil by disconnecting the battery (which is the main source of 12 v to get the car running).Once the car is running, the alternator is the source of "running voltage" and also rechanrges the battery.
This quick test doesn't mean your alternator is working real good, just that it has some output (a voltmeterand ammeter while under loadis the only way to know)