I never would have thought...............battery ground cable....

[Toploader]

Sometime ago maybe four years I was in my buds shop for a LOF, and said F it........I need me some new battery cables.

Returned to p/u the car and found that the new tech had taken the "easy" way........instead of running a new long ground cable down to the block, he ran the cable to one of the water pump bolts.

I then found that on many occasions the car would not crank, and I actually thought I needed a new ignition switch.

Well last year I happened to have had enough of this no start........drove to another friend who has a shop........we put the pos on the lift and reattached the cable to the block.

Since that time I have never had an issue starting the car, no more turn key and hear SILENCE!!

Coincidence????

[gadget73]

Not really, the connection at the water pump was probably crusty and that will cause problems. There isn't any magic about the stock location, it just has to be clean and tight.

[85crownHPP]

Yeap, on the water pump bolt its more likely to get a little corrosion... and/or a little loose.
I think older ford V-8's (or maybe some other older v-8 car, dunno for sure) had them on a water pump stud from the factory... maybe that's why he done it. Make sure you have a decent one going to the body too