Question: Ok, here’s a weird one. I’ve got a Chevy 305 with a mild tune in a 72 Mercedes 280SE, and it’s been running great for a while now. However, after a rain storm, it won’t start, but it’s a weird non-start. When i connect the battery cables, turn the key to ignition, the accessories work (a/c, etc). When i turn to start, i hear the solenoid click, but the starter doesn’t turn. Here’s the weird part. I take the key out, put it back in, and it acts like it’s *completely* dead. No accessories at all. I replaced the battery, and i’ve put it on a charger, i’ve even rolled the car back a little to see if it just needed to get the flywheel in a diff place. The only thing that works — get this — is disconnecting the battery cables, waiting about 30 mins, and reconnecting them. Reconnecting them immediately doesn’t help.
So, any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: It sounds like you may be getting moisture inside the distributor cap. When moisture gets in there then the spark can not transfer to the post where the wire is connected. Try getting some wire dryer, take off the cap and spray a little inside the cap. Also check the cap for cracks. You may be able to put a thin beed of silicone around the base of the cap where it mates with the distributor body to eliminate the moisture inside. Good Luck.

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