[TR] Electrical diagnosis, please!

[KingsCreekTrees at aol.com]

Hi all; Now I know none of you can see my car from where you are, so I  
appreciate this is going to be difficult. I have an electrical problem that I'd 
 like some guidance with, if it's possible. I'm usually pretty good with 
things  mechanical, but when it comes to electrics I'm a complete idiot. I can 
handle  changing a set of points and some minor stuff, but that's about it.
 
Here goes: TR3A TS22930LO, built October '57. Today I was cranking the  
engine to start it, when suddenly the ignition light went off, the engine  
stopped cranking and the electrically-driven gauges went to zero. I turned off  
the ignition, turned it on again and the ignition light was just about 
glowing.  No chance of the engine turning over/cranking, though. With the 
ignition off, I  turned on the sidelights/parking lights. They were just about 
glowing, but very  dimly. I checked battery connections: OK. I checked 
connections at the starter  solenoid (not sure why): OK. I did notice the solenoid 
mounting was loose, so I  took it off, completely re-secured the solenoid, 
including scraping paint and  cleaning clips to ensure a good ground, but that 
wasn't the problem. I re-did  the battery ground connection at the engine 
(but I've just realised I should've  re-done the engine ground strap 
connections; I'll do that tonight). Also, I  haven't checked fuses yet, but I'll do 
that too. I've never heard of a battery  suddenly failing to create this 
symptom, but I'll swap the battery off our '65  Volvo PV544, just to make sure.
 
I'm about to go back out to the workshop to do some more things to it, but  
I thought I'd send this email now because with my (in)capabilities, I'm  
sure I won't have fixed it by the time I come back in! I plan to go to the  
vintage racing festival at Mosport with the car on Thursday, so I'm a bit  
anxious to get this sorted.
 
Thanks in advance, all.
 
Tim  

Tim Dyer,  Kings Creek Trees and Ornamentals
427 Kings Creek Road, RR3
Ashton, ON K0A  1B0
Canada
Phone/fax: 613 253 4126 Website: _www.kingscreektrees.com_ 
(http://www.kingscreektrees.com/) 

Proud  member of Landscape Ontario (the Ontario association for 
horticulture  professionals), the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association, the 
Ottawa  Botanical Garden Society, the Carleton Place Horticultural Society and 
the  Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario