<VV> Mechanic Needed ...

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

>Nothing. 
>

The only conclusion that can be gained is the jumpers may have been 
hooked up but weren't making  good contact, or the battery was still 
dead as it wasn't adequately charged by the 'jumping' -- jumping is a 
quick way to get 14 volts at the battery, it is not what supplies 
current to start the car, although it may supplement it a bit

>She disconnected the positive cable from her battery and reconnected the jumper cable directly to the positive connector, had someone turn the key while she was holding the cable to keep it from shorting. Nothing. No click, nothing.
>

*maybe*, IF the jumper cables were 00 gauge welding cable, and the other 
car had a 200 amp alternator, this might work, but typically, you need 
the battery in the circuit [or if you have an old worn out BMC product 
-- 948 cc -- that you can easily hand crank].  Take the battery down and 
get it tested, then charged AND tested again, in that order -- what she 
should have done with the first battery -- I have had new batteries that 
were failed when they were installed, and this is also possible -- 
anymore I generally have them test brand new batteries before I leave 
the store, as it can save a trip.  More likely a bad connection at the 
chassis ground or the  cable to the starter, or maybe the purple wire 
going to the solenoid is bad or loose or a bad ignition switch.  Do 
things like the headlights work, even a little? Dome light?  Radio?  If 
nothing works, it could be the hot wire from the battery forward has 
gone bad in the firewall plug connection,  a common 'early' problem.  If 
you have nice bright headlights, the battery is probably good and 
charged and the problem is most likely in the starter circuits.  With 
the headlights on Hi, what do they do when you hit the starter?

After she gets it started, then you still need to find out what the 
problem is, if it wasn't discovered in the 'getting it started' phase.  
Fan belt is good, isn't it?

Be Prepared -- trouble always comes in three's   ;-)   [this can be 
proven mathematically, as to the sequencing of any three random events 
in a series of events]

Godspeed!

Bill