[DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...

[Julian Kift]

Garth,

If the battery is strong enough to crank it over as you describe, I don't think it's the battery. It sounds like you don't have current to the ignition coil in the engine cranking key position. Maybe a grounding issue if the battery booster is enough to overcome it?

Julian

________________________________
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of Garth Rodericks via DeTomaso <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2020 3:52 PM
To: DeTomaso Mail List <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>; Rich Boschert <theemonkey at yahoo.com>; Brent Stewart <brent.stewart at yahoo.com>; Bob Benson <rcbsons1 at aol.com>; Jon Haas <jhmotorwerke at gmail.com>; Tim Arnett <arnetttim at sbcglobal.net>; Larry Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com>; John Buckman <jb841 at cox.net>
Subject: [DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...

Sending this to the brain-trust for some collective wisdom on where and what to check first before I drop $100 on a new battery...
The Problem:The engine will crank and crank and crank, but it won't light/fire.Only when I release the key from the 'start' position after 10-20 seconds of cranking, it sounds like it just tries to light for a seconds, but doesn't catch.
The battery is an Optima Red top, but I'm not sure how old it is. Date code is 6033, which most likely means 2/2/2016.  I don't remember replacing the battery only 4 years ago, but I must have.Battery voltage before cranking = 12.4v to 12.55vI believe voltage in the 12.0-12.4v range means it's low.  It also doesn't seem to hold a charge long, so I expect it's sulfated.

If I add my little portable battery booster ($60 from Costo), it will usually start. The engine doesn't crank any faster, but the engine fires this time.
I was thinking I might need a new battery, but wanted to see if there's something else I should check first before dropping $100 on a battery.
The ignition is a Pantera Electronics Electronic Ignition System (EIS) with a Mallory Unilite distributor (with a newer module).
Thanks!
Garth#4033
-------------- next part --------------
   Garth,

   If the battery is strong enough to crank it over as you describe, I
   don't think it's the battery. It sounds like you don't have current to
   the ignition coil in the engine cranking key position. Maybe a
   grounding issue if the battery booster is enough to overcome it?

   Julian
     __________________________________________________________________

   From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of
   Garth Rodericks via DeTomaso <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
   Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2020 3:52 PM
   To: DeTomaso Mail List <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>; Rich
   Boschert <theemonkey at yahoo.com>; Brent Stewart
   <brent.stewart at yahoo.com>; Bob Benson <rcbsons1 at aol.com>; Jon Haas
   <jhmotorwerke at gmail.com>; Tim Arnett <arnetttim at sbcglobal.net>; Larry
   Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com>; John Buckman <jb841 at cox.net>
   Subject: [DeTomaso] Difficulty starting the Pantera...

   Sending this to the brain-trust for some collective wisdom on where and
   what to check first before I drop $100 on a new battery...
   The Problem:The engine will crank and crank and crank, but it won't
   light/fire.Only when I release the key from the 'start' position after
   10-20 seconds of cranking, it sounds like it just tries to light for a
   seconds, but doesn't catch.
   The battery is an Optima Red top, but I'm not sure how old it is. Date
   code is 6033, which most likely means 2/2/2016.  I don't remember
   replacing the battery only 4 years ago, but I must have.Battery voltage
   before cranking = 12.4v to 12.55vI believe voltage in the 12.0-12.4v
   range means it's low.  It also doesn't seem to hold a charge long, so I
   expect it's sulfated.
   If I add my little portable battery booster ($60 from Costo), it will
   usually start. The engine doesn't crank any faster, but the engine
   fires this time.
   I was thinking I might need a new battery, but wanted to see if there's
   something else I should check first before dropping $100 on a battery.
   The ignition is a Pantera Electronics Electronic Ignition System (EIS)
   with a Mallory Unilite distributor (with a newer module).
   Thanks!
   Garth#4033