I have '65 automatic recently purchased. When tried to start, only clicking noise. Charged battery, same thing. Then put in neutral and car began to crank, but did not kick over. When I tried to turn key back off, would not stop cranking. Tried to put in park, still cranking. Pulled key out of ignition altogether, car is still cranking. By now, battery going dead and cranking stops. I disconnect battery, wait for a while, when I try to reconnect, as soon as positive connects, motor starts cranking again. Right now, battery disconnected. Does anybody know what the hell is going on? I suspect there is an electrical problem that I'm hoping someone can help me correct.

 

Bad Starter solenoid. To be able to hook the battery back up without it cranking, just take a butt end of a screwdriver and hit the top of the solenoid. The solenoid is the black device mounted to the inner fender next to the battery. It has a heavy red cable mounted to one sidefrom the battery, then two smaller wires coming from the front with plastic angle connectors on them, then another heavy cable coming off the other side going down to the starter.

Go to your favorite autoparts store and pick up a new one. This will solve the continuous cranking problem.

 

Thanks. Will give that a try today and keep posting.

 

Yep... sounds like starter solenoid... $12 part and easy fix..

 

same happend to me...smacking it does the trick till you buy a new solenoid