Puzzling 1952 m38 won't Start

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:49 pm

Just got to deer camp and been 1 month since I cranked jeep. Now I turn on/off switch and needle does not move. Both battery's show 13.6 and 14.3 charge. I keep a trickle charger on them . Further more horn does not work and lights do not. Tried to pull it off and never hit. Nothing . On off switch is month old and been working. Tell me it's something simple! Thanks for any help. Stranded at deer camp , clarksdale ms!!

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 5:47 pm

Remove your cables and clean the connections?

Bobber · Post by **Bobber** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:46 pm

Plus, go the last place you worked on it. Maybe a wire came loose in the process of putting it back together. I had real bad problems and it was a bad ground. Couldn't tell by looking at it. Cleaned it all and back in business.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:52 pm

Get your head under the dash with a good trouble light and inspect wiring an connectors. Don't overlook rodent dinner damage!

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:44 am

If it does nothing when you push in the foot operated starter button, you have a bad battery cable connection or dirty ground. No power from the batteries. Clean all connections as noted. John

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:47 am

Got everything clean. Took voltmeter and getting hot current from battery to battery. Just keep going back to switch .. when I first got to camp and needle wouldn't move. I hook up some chargers temporary , COuLd I have FRied something? Maybe my 3 month old switch? Can I by pass switch to rule out bad battery connection? Is there a fuse in the ignition wire . The fact my lights and horn don't work . No rodent sign. I have a neat system for that.

radtech · Post by **radtech** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:52 am

Run a jumper wire from the hot post on your starter switch to the distributor and try to start it.You will need an insulated aligator clip to connect to the distributor connector pin.This bypasses the ignition switch.If it will run then you have a problem in the ignition switch or wiring.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:06 pm

Thanks. Is the distributor connection on bottom where battery another wire hook up and screw down on top starter?
I have 4 wires behind plug. One of them correct?

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:31 pm

Joe,
Is this a stock 24 volt as delivered M38?

If so, the wiring diagram is in Wes' photo pages and
the manuals are in the downloads section for free.

Contained in them are troubleshooting instructions.

If it's not factory 24 volt wiring we need to know.

radtech · Post by **radtech** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:02 pm

If you don't know how your distributor is wired go through the manual trouble shooting because without knowing how it is wired you won't be able to understand how to bypass the ignition switch.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:17 pm

It's a stock 24 volts

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:40 pm

With the cables connected does the starter turn the engine over???????? There should be a main power lead connected where the battery power attaches to the starter.

If the starter spins the engine, you can hot wire from that post to the coil/distributor input lead and it should start.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:50 pm

Starter does not make a noise. Whole jeep is quiet as mouse!

Also I got my son to pull me around the camp trying to pull it off in gear. Not sound from engine.

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:52 pm

Voltage is not amperage. Your batteries may be bad. If you use jumper cables, can you light up a headlight or honk a horn?

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:08 pm

Would I be able to pull off in gear with bad battery?

I hooked different things ( head lamps, spot lights) up to battery's and they seemed fine. I keep atrickle on them all the time