1964 Dart GT slant six electrical issues - complete novice

[HyborianHosscat]

Hey, hope this is the right forum for this issue. I was told this was probably the best place for these kinds of issues.

I have a survivor Dart in the UK. It's been waiting on registration here for 5 weeks and I've been idling it every few days to keep it fresh, hasn't even been on the road yet. There's been a little issue here and there, dead battery from drain (a new battery turned 4 start attempts into 1), a rattle from the heater fan, a sticky cigarette lighter. But nothing major, and nothing a complete novice like myself couldn't fix, til now.

Tonight I went out to turn it over and also get to work on a condensation issue. Before starting the car, I made a thick brow decision to pull the defroster knob out to see if it was sticky or not as well, as it hadn't been touched in weeks. I then started the car without pushing it back in. The car immediately died before full ignition. I saw the oil light come on (the normal way, not as a warning) and it died like the battery was dead, which can't be as the car has been on for maybe 20 minutes over the last month. The defroster could be a coincidence but it seems too much of one to be so. I feel as though I've shorted something when the car turned over with the defroster 'on' (not even sure if it works properly yet, that's what tonight was about. It might draw power but not actually function).

I've taken the battery out and will recharge it. I'm naïvely hoping this will fix my problem, it's got some drain somewhere and today's timing was just frankly mythical, but again I feel like it's something at the firewall. This is a hunch but I think it's a good one, the battery is just too new.

Could use some advice from some sages. What do I do here? I just got the registration through and am only waiting on plates. I was about a week out from a trip to the classics shop for a once over.

Green as clover but I'm 110% willing to learn and borrow/purchase items needed. I don't have a garage but anything I can do I will attempt. Right now I'm just trying to get her running again.

 

[Killer6]

Hey, hope this is the right forum for this issue. I was told this was probably the best place for these kinds of issues.

I have a survivor Dart in the UK. It's been waiting on registration here for 5 weeks and I've been idling it every few days to keep it fresh, hasn't even been on the road yet. There's been a little issue here and there, dead battery from drain (a new battery turned 4 start attempts into 1), a rattle from the heater fan, a sticky cigarette lighter. But nothing major, and nothing a complete novice like myself couldn't fix, til now.

Tonight I went out to turn it over and also get to work on a condensation issue. Before starting the car, I made a thick brow decision to pull the defroster knob out to see if it was sticky or not as well, as it hadn't been touched in weeks. I then started the car without pushing it back in. The car immediately died before full ignition. I saw the oil light come on (the normal way, not as a warning) and it died like the battery was dead, which can't be as the car has been on for maybe 20 minutes over the last month. The defroster could be a coincidence but it seems too much of one to be so. I feel as though I've shorted something when the car turned over with the defroster 'on' (not even sure if it works properly yet, that's what tonight was about. It might draw power but not actually function).

I've taken the battery out and will recharge it. I'm naïvely hoping this will fix my problem, it's got some drain somewhere and today's timing was just frankly mythical, but again I feel like it's something at the firewall. This is a hunch but I think it's a good one, the battery is just too new.

Could use some advice from some sages. What do I do here? I just got the registration through and am only waiting on plates. I was about a week out from a trip to the classics shop for a once over.

Green as clover but I'm 110% willing to learn and borrow/purchase items needed. I don't have a garage but anything I can do I will attempt. Right now I'm just trying to get her running again.

View attachment 1716492292

Could be a bad battery, or failed/failing cable/end, but the defroster doesn't draw any electricity.....only the blower motor which You've already had out I assume.
Go to the Electrical & Ignition Forum here, then search and read, most of what You'd want or need to know is there already. By all means, keep Us updated, a draw can come from only a few places...none of them good.
Your GT is what Mine is supposed to look like, I'm planning to go red with it tho', peace!

 

[65 Dartman]

Welcome to FABO! If you don’t have a shop manual you can either buy one on eBayy or download one for free at MyMopars. It’ll have specifications, wiring diagrams and much more. It will be invaluable to both you and your classic car garage.

FWIW we visited Scotland last June and stayed in Aberdeen.

 

[MadScientistMat]

If that's the front defroster, the defrost switch itself just moves a mechanical vent door; only the blower motor draws current. Sometimes you'll run into electric rear defrost systems swapped in; is that the case here?

 

[cudamark]

Start with charging the battery. Then check for current draw by putting a meter between the battery cable and the battery post. With nothing turned on, there should be no draw. This assumes stock electrical and no added items with a memory circuit. If there is a draw, disconnect one circuit at a time to isolate the problem. Nice looking car. It deserves a garage or car port. At least get a good quality car cover for it or it will quickly deteriorate.

 

[Bewy]

Do as Cuda suggests, remove one fuse at a time to find the section affected.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Welcome to FABO! If you don’t have a shop manual you can either buy one on eBayy or download one for free at MyMopars. It’ll have specifications, wiring diagrams and much more. It will be invaluable to both you and your classic car garage.

FWIW we visited Scotland last June and stayed in Aberdeen.

mymopar doesn't have one for the 64.

 

[Mattax]

which can't be as the car has been on for maybe 20 minutes over the last month

it could be regardless.
Do you have a multi-meter? Any test tools? Does your battery charger have any meters on it?

The car immediately died before full ignition.

So the starter was cranking the engine but the engine did not start. Yes?

The defroster could be a coincidence but it seems too much of one to be so. I feel as though I've shorted something when the car turned over with the defroster 'on' (not even sure if it works properly yet, that's what tonight was about. It might draw power but not actually function).

Defroster is mechanical so unlikely to be related. A lot depends on what has been done to the car.
Take some photos and post. 1. Instrument Panel. 2. Inside view of connector on the firewall. 3. Engine bay views of firewall, and inner fender including the battery. Anything else you want. From those we can start to walk you through the problem assuming its not completely customized.

 

[Dicer]

For now, I would charge the battery and leave one battery post disconnected. And when you need to start it, connect the battery and see if it will crank for you. If it does, you would at least know the battery is good. The classic shop should have the equipment needed for the once over.