Can't start w/o headlights being on

[Jon]

Car = '72 240Z w/ after-market Crane electronic ignition

Crazy thing!! Several months ago, I accidently let my 1 yr/old battery drain down to DEAD. So I charged it fully. But when I tried to start the car, it only made a clicking sound, like you hear when your battery is dead. All accesories seem to work OK.

Started foolong around with it and found...voila! by turning on the headlights, the starter cranked right over and the car started great. Turned it off and tried again, same thing--headlights off, clicking; headlights on, starts right up.

Does anyone know what the fix for this is? (don't know if this matters of not but when I initially tried to start it, the Viper alarm wouldn't shut off, so i disconnected it by removing its power wire from the (+) battery cable.)

Feel free to email me direct at exbeachboy@gmail.com

Many thanks,

Jon

[EScanlon]

I'll lay odds that the Viper alarm has something to do with it, especially with your having disconnected it.

E

[Z train]

Actually the liberal residents of "Soviet Monica"are playing mind tricks on you,so you'll move out of your rent controlled apartment.

[KDMatt]

Won't start without the headlights being turned on? I guess that's one way to have daytime running lights.

Seriously though, it sounds like your wiring is goin' wonky, and it's always a good place to start is to look at your ground connections. Best of luck chief.

[KDMatt]

Won't start without the headlights being turned on? I guess that's one way to have daytime running lights.

Seriously though, it sounds like your wiring is goin' wonky, and it's always a good place to start is to look at your ground connections. Best of luck chief.

[KDMatt]

(crap multiples, sorry everyone, browser froze)

[geezer]

E's post is right on I believe. Car alarm installers have many options available to them, depending on how complex of a system they want to create. Now that you have removed it, you will have to do some basic troubleshooting, with the aid of a wiring schematic. It is not possible to help you any further, without doing this first and then posting pics & descriptions of what you find. We could come up a dozen things to look for, but that is not the "fix".

[geezer]

E's post is right on I believe. Car alarm installers have many options available to them, depending on how complex of a system they want to create. Now that you have removed it, you will have to do some basic troubleshooting, with the aid of a wiring schematic. It is not possible to help you any further, without doing this first and then posting pics & descriptions of what you find. We could come up with a dozen things to look for, but that is not the "fix".

[tp1gbw]

don't know if you fixed this - but I just replaced the battery in my 280 after it sat for 18 mo and had the same thing happen (just the first time). the clicking I heard was the solenoid and when I turned on the lights it started. My guess was that the new battery pushed the solenoid too hard and it stuck on either a bad spot on the winding or on the flywheel. With the lights on and less amps going to the starter it maybe sliding into place easier. Just a guess, but I think the less amps thing is the key.

bottom line - a new starter and solenoid may be in order.