Does this model have a fusible link between the + battery terminal and the non-starter loads in the car?
He also has no headlights or park lights , none of the items you listed except the battery cable will do that.Bad switch, bad battery cable, bad neutral safety switch, open in the wire somewhere or a bad starter is all it could be.
I literally just had this in my friend’s Jeep. Connected my Clore Automotive charger (which has saved several other batteries over the years), and let it charge several hours. Showed 100% battery health, and 12.8V with the charger turned off. All good, right? Wrong. Turn the key on to accessory, and everything died. Relays started clicking, the whole works. Try to start, everything completely died. Was able to jump it with a NOCO GB40, but on the drive to AZ it died completely and I had to push it out of the street with the help of a couple peace officers.I have seen battery's and they check out ok but for some reason they don't work. I would buy a brand new battery and try it or use a good proven battery out of another vehicle. Batteries can do strange things. They check out ok but still don't work correctly.
Many thanks to everyone who replied! This is update, I thought the battery was ok but I tried everything except a new battery. So last resort was a new Autozone battery ($200} yesterday, still no start, no headlights, no anything. So at sunset today (24 hrs later) I go into garage, open the driver door and nonchalantly pull the headlight knob & the lights come on, am very excited, then turn the ignition and she starts right up. So that begs a question, why didnt it start yesterday when I got it a new battery?? Any thoughts from any members.My '63 Impala wont start and this is a relatively simple car, this was yrs before chips & computers.
But battery shows plenty fire from simple testing it with large pliers lol, all connections seem good and tight.
Ignition has no response, no head lights/park lights, no nothing.
I even tried to jump it with wife's car, got nothing.
Bottom line is this, its just like there's not even a battery in the car.
Any ideas, anyone?
As it turns out was the battery I think, car starts, all lights work, but the new battery was in the car over 24 hrs before the car responded, but I'll take it! This car is nice, no rust, original 283, original Rochester 2bll though needs a rebuild I think, 3 speed on column (kind wish it was a 2-speed powerglide) , no ac, power brakes or power steering, 2 dr hardtop, a very simple car that I will never win a race in but is such a sweet ride!The '63 Impala is a beautiful car. I love the styling. 283/Powerglide?
It sounds like the starter motor is not trying to turn the engine over, correct?
I would start by probing with a 12 V test light.
Would love to see photos. I'm sure I speak for many here.As it turns out was the battery I think, car starts, all lights work, but the new battery was in the car over 24 hrs before the car responded, but I'll take it! This car is nice, no rust, original 283, original Rochester 2bll though needs a rebuild I think, 3 speed on column (kind wish it was a 2-speed powerglide) , no ac, power brakes or power steering, 2 dr hardtop, a very simple car that I will never win a race in but is such a sweet ride!
I have had this car only 8 mos so I'm still learning about it. So today I discovered a 4-prong connection to the voltage reg just hanging there unplugged. So I plug it in and my alternator light comes on indicating its not working properly and it gently pulsates. I then unplugged the 4-prong wire and the alternator light goes out indicating all is well but thats not right. So maybe thats got something to do with the bad battery I had . The car & all lights are working good thanks to a new $200 battery but how long will that continue. I dunno, maybe a bad alternator? Ideas anyone?My '63 Impala wont start and this is a relatively simple car, this was yrs before chips & computers.
But battery shows plenty fire from simple testing it with large pliers lol, all connections seem good and tight.
Ignition has no response, no head lights/park lights, no nothing.
I even tried to jump it with wife's car, got nothing.
Bottom line is this, its just like there's not even a battery in the car.
Any ideas, anyone?
Voltage regulator is cheap and easy. Start there. The fact that plugging the harness in makes the light come on... it's one of the two. I would pull the alt and regulator and take both to the parts store and have them tested. Should be quick and easy R&R on that car, like 20 minutes. Haha. Or you could just throw a new one of each at it, should be pretty cheap. Those charging components aren't real complicated. OR you could convert it over to a newer "one wire" alternator. That'll involve a little bit of modification and wiring, but simple stuff that's pretty easy. I bet if you Google "63 Impala 1 wire alternator conversion" you'll find tons of videos and write-ups. They even sell purty chrome alts if you go that way.I have had this car only 8 mos so I'm still learning about it. So today I discovered a 4-prong connection to the voltage reg just hanging there unplugged. So I plug it in and my alternator light comes on indicating its not working properly and it gently pulsates. I then unplugged the 4-prong wire and the alternator light goes out indicating all is well but thats not right. So maybe thats got something to do with the bad battery I had . The car & all lights are working good thanks to a new $200 battery but how long will that continue. I dunno, maybe a bad alternator? Ideas anyone?