[Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem

[Jeff Scarbrough]

Not exactly the problem you're having, but maybe something similar. Decades
ago when I worked for a Volkswagen dealer, we had a newish car that
exhibited a similar electrical problem. The guy would go out to his car,
try to crank it up to go to work, and it wouldn't start. He had it towed in
three times and all three times they dropped it off the wrecker, it cranked
up and drove perfectly. Finally, the fourth time he had the problem, my
boss told me to get some tools and drive to the guy's house. I spent about
30 minutes tracing the problem, and finally found it. Underneath the carpet
in the trunk of the car there was a wire connection for the fuel pump. A
single wire plugged into another single wire inside of plastic connector.
That connector was taped to the floor the back of the car. I traced the
electrical problem to that point - power ahead of it and not after it. When
I peeled the tape back, I found that the wires were plugged in far enough
to touch, but not far enough to be permanently connected.

I just pushed the wires together, and everything was fine. No more
trouble.  Apparently, the wires would retract from one another when it got
a little cool, and break the connection to the fuel pump.  Putting it on
the wrecker and bouncing it to the shop was enough to remake the connection.

On Tue, May 19, 2026, 13:23 john niolon <jniolon at att.net> wrote:

> Strange automotive electrical problem we need help with…
>
> 55 chevy automatic with 383 stroker motor, carbed, p/s,p/b,a/c
>
> Dakota digital dash system including neutral safety switch and
>
> Transmission gear indicator
>
>
>
> When it is running right, it’s scary strong.  Cruises nicely.
>
>
>
> Problem… when driving the engine dies like you cut it off…BUT will start
> back up
>
> Immediately and run perfectly till the next time it does it.  Might be 15
> minutes…15 days or
>
> three month later. Might do it 4 times in a row or once and not repeat.  Speed
> does not effect it.
>
> Engine temp does not effect it…  does it hot or cold. With the a/c on or
> off.  It does not have a
>
> Cutoff switch in the system.  Longest period with no failure is 7 months…
> shortest was 4 minutes.
>
>
>
> When it stalls we checked fuel by looking in the bowl of carb and gas is
> spraying as it should
>
> So we are assuming electrical of some sort.  So far we’ve done the
> following…
>
>
>
> Replaced battery with new red top optima battery and all new battery
> cables (2 gauge I think)
>
> Replaced all ground cables frame/block… frame/chassis with 2/0 welding
> cable with new crimped
>
> connectors and clean, bare metal attachment points
>
> replaced ignition switch (twice… first with import then with oem switch)
>
> replaced coil and distributor with MSD system with spark control box,
> separate coil and distributor…
>
> it was taken from running vehicle.  It's doing the same  thing as the
> original ignition system.
>
> Replaced complete wiring harness…headlight to taillight with new Autowire
> harness…including all
>
> Switches and relays. Professionally done.
>
> Everything else electrical works without a glitch…  we are at the wall
> here…
>
>
>
> Ideas, suggestions, calculated wild a** guesses welcomed…
>
> thanks
>
>
>
> john
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Shop-talk at autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/fishplate@gmail.com
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk/attachments/20260520/e3a08df1/attachment-0001.htm>