Oops...need starter wiring help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Oops...need starter wiring help
Short version (without going into the great new and better mod I was about to start): I detached the wires from the starter solenoid, and now I'm not sure where they go.
Wire 1: About 2 gauge, comes from + battery, obviously goes to center large post on solenoid.
Wire 2: Red, about 8, maybe 10 gauge, with large eye lug, which leads me to believe it goes to the center large post also.
Wire 3: Red, about 10 gauge, small eye lug, goes to one of the side posts
Wire 4: Red, very small (14 gauge), small eye lug, seems to go to one of the side posts.
So- which side posts for 3 and 4? As you can imagine, I've tried both, and get nothing when I turn the key.
Follow up question: assuming I did have it hooked up right with one of the possible wire configurations, what else would cause me to get nothing when I turn the key? I don't ev en get the little click that you can usually hear when the ignition system gets voltage just before you crank the key over to "start".
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Wire 1: About 2 gauge, comes from + battery, obviously goes to center large post on solenoid.
Wire 2: Red, about 8, maybe 10 gauge, with large eye lug, which leads me to believe it goes to the center large post also.
Wire 3: Red, about 10 gauge, small eye lug, goes to one of the side posts
Wire 4: Red, very small (14 gauge), small eye lug, seems to go to one of the side posts.
So- which side posts for 3 and 4? As you can imagine, I've tried both, and get nothing when I turn the key.
Follow up question: assuming I did have it hooked up right with one of the possible wire configurations, what else would cause me to get nothing when I turn the key? I don't ev en get the little click that you can usually hear when the ignition system gets voltage just before you crank the key over to "start".
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
Looking at a picture that I took of mine it looks like the #3 and #4 work like this, #3 goes back to th key switch: hot when key is turned to start position. The #4 goes to the coil. That being said. The #3 would hook up to the post on the left of the Big post and the #4 to the right side.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i am looking at a wiring diag for a 74
0 ga black = battery
20 ga yel-(gbs) = coil
12 ga red = junction box on driver side fender
12 ga ppl = ignition key
just my thoughts now. you have too many red wires... i have a 74 also and the wiring was quite butchered up. you may follow the two remaining red wires back and check for splices.
ok dont laugh but here is how i made sure which wire is ign. i hooked up the batt cable and power lead to starter. then, i ran a test wire from the horn to the suspect ign wire. i jumped in the car and turned the key. the horn honked when the key was turned to start position. that wire goes on the S on the starter.
is the battery good?
do the head lights turn on?
what caused you to disconect the wires from the starter?
0 ga black = battery
20 ga yel-(gbs) = coil
12 ga red = junction box on driver side fender
12 ga ppl = ignition key
just my thoughts now. you have too many red wires... i have a 74 also and the wiring was quite butchered up. you may follow the two remaining red wires back and check for splices.
ok dont laugh but here is how i made sure which wire is ign. i hooked up the batt cable and power lead to starter. then, i ran a test wire from the horn to the suspect ign wire. i jumped in the car and turned the key. the horn honked when the key was turned to start position. that wire goes on the S on the starter.
is the battery good?
do the head lights turn on?
what caused you to disconect the wires from the starter?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Did they change something when they went to 75? I had 3 wires. 2 went to the large post and 1 small went to another spot, but it was sooo obvious. Seems like you have more wires? I guess maybe they changed it because of the HEI?
Also I took a picture with the digital camera before disconnecting.
Also I took a picture with the digital camera before disconnecting.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Hey guys-
I appreciate the input. When I get home frmo work, I'll take a look and try to sort out what I did. If I disconnect the wires and figure out which one is hot when I turn the key all the way to start, I figure that would go to the S terminal on the solenoid, correct?
And the one that goes hot when the ignition is on should go to the coil, yes?
I took the wires off because I was going to wire a remote starter solenoid to get rid of my hot start problems. In the process I managed to wind up with 'no start' issues.
And John, I like the horn idea. I may try it.
Thanks again.
I appreciate the input. When I get home frmo work, I'll take a look and try to sort out what I did. If I disconnect the wires and figure out which one is hot when I turn the key all the way to start, I figure that would go to the S terminal on the solenoid, correct?
And the one that goes hot when the ignition is on should go to the coil, yes?
I took the wires off because I was going to wire a remote starter solenoid to get rid of my hot start problems. In the process I managed to wind up with 'no start' issues.
And John, I like the horn idea. I may try it.
Thanks again.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i think the remote solenoid is a great idea personally. on my 74 i used the stock batt cable and routed it straight up and bolted it to the firewall. you can send me a private message if you want. i am happy to share the experience.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Johnt365-
Quick question on your remote solenoid-- how did you ground it? I read somewhere that it is supposed to be grounded by the solenoid body, which is great if you mount it on the fenderwell of a steel bodied car, but not so great for fiberglass.
Thanks,
Bob B.
Quick question on your remote solenoid-- how did you ground it? I read somewhere that it is supposed to be grounded by the solenoid body, which is great if you mount it on the fenderwell of a steel bodied car, but not so great for fiberglass.
Thanks,
Bob B.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i used a ground strap (you can kinda see it in the pic running behind the solenoid) and connected one end to the mounting bracket bolt and the other end to the bellhousing. you can kinda see in the pic, i used bolts instead of the supplied screws to mount the solenoid.
that is now a very convenient grounding point.
I converted mine to HEI at the same time so it only has the 3 wires connected to it.
that is now a very convenient grounding point.
I converted mine to HEI at the same time so it only has the 3 wires connected to it.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by johnt365
i used a ground strap (you can kinda see it in the pic running behind the solenoid) and connected one end to the mounting bracket bolt and the other end to the bellhousing. you can kinda see in the pic, i used bolts instead of the supplied screws to mount the solenoid.
that is now a very convenient grounding point.
I converted mine to HEI at the same time so it only has the 3 wires connected to it.
that is now a very convenient grounding point.
I converted mine to HEI at the same time so it only has the 3 wires connected to it.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Originally Posted by redwingvette
Looking at a picture that I took of mine it looks like the #3 and #4 work like this, #3 goes back to th key switch: hot when key is turned to start position. The #4 goes to the coil. That being said. The #3 would hook up to the post on the left of the Big post and the #4 to the right side.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Alright, this is going to drive me nuts. I tested every lead.
0 gauge goes to the large terminal on the solenoid. 12V continuous (unswitched) as measured by my digital voltmeter. (If I couldn't find it I was going to use the horn method.)
Other lead with the large eye lug goes to the wiring junction on the driver's side.
Small (20 guage) wire is an ignition-on 12V circuit. As soon as I turn the key to run, it shows a good 12+ volts. Ive got it hooked up to the small solenoid terminal furthest from the block.
10 gauge orange wire- only place it will fit is the terminal on the solenoid closest to the engine block. When the key is turned to start, this lead shows 12 volts.
Here's the question: even with the wires hooked up according to the diagrams, and voltage good when it's supposed to be, I can't get the starter to do anything when I iturn the key. What is going on?!!! Any help wouild be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
0 gauge goes to the large terminal on the solenoid. 12V continuous (unswitched) as measured by my digital voltmeter. (If I couldn't find it I was going to use the horn method.)
Other lead with the large eye lug goes to the wiring junction on the driver's side.
Small (20 guage) wire is an ignition-on 12V circuit. As soon as I turn the key to run, it shows a good 12+ volts. Ive got it hooked up to the small solenoid terminal furthest from the block.
10 gauge orange wire- only place it will fit is the terminal on the solenoid closest to the engine block. When the key is turned to start, this lead shows 12 volts.
Here's the question: even with the wires hooked up according to the diagrams, and voltage good when it's supposed to be, I can't get the starter to do anything when I iturn the key. What is going on?!!! Any help wouild be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Recently rewired my sb '74 too.
Originally Posted by thebruce
Alright, this is going to drive me nuts. I tested every lead.
0 gauge goes to the large terminal on the solenoid. 12V continuous (unswitched) as measured by my digital voltmeter. (If I couldn't find it I was going to use the horn method.)
Other lead with the large eye lug goes to the wiring junction on the driver's side.
Small (20 guage) wire is an ignition-on 12V circuit. As soon as I turn the key to run, it shows a good 12+ volts. Ive got it hooked up to the small solenoid terminal furthest from the block.
10 gauge orange wire- only place it will fit is the terminal on the solenoid closest to the engine block. When the key is turned to start, this lead shows 12 volts.
Here's the question: even with the wires hooked up according to the diagrams, and voltage good when it's supposed to be, I can't get the starter to do anything when I iturn the key. What is going on?!!! Any help wouild be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
0 gauge goes to the large terminal on the solenoid. 12V continuous (unswitched) as measured by my digital voltmeter. (If I couldn't find it I was going to use the horn method.)
Other lead with the large eye lug goes to the wiring junction on the driver's side.
Small (20 guage) wire is an ignition-on 12V circuit. As soon as I turn the key to run, it shows a good 12+ volts. Ive got it hooked up to the small solenoid terminal furthest from the block.
10 gauge orange wire- only place it will fit is the terminal on the solenoid closest to the engine block. When the key is turned to start, this lead shows 12 volts.
Here's the question: even with the wires hooked up according to the diagrams, and voltage good when it's supposed to be, I can't get the starter to do anything when I iturn the key. What is going on?!!! Any help wouild be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Ok i'll just say what it should be:
Big red wire pos+ connects to solenoid large term lug - goes to batt
smaller red wire with big ring lug connects to solenoid large term lug also - goes to driver side junction block which is hot pos+
smaller purple wire goes to "S" term on block side of starter solenoid - from starter switch though relays and poopie
smaller yellow wire goes to outside term on solenoid (fender side) - conects to pos+ of coil (not neg-)
yes u were grounding out ur coil but u should have heard the starter solenoid pick up (click with key on start), if not the u have batt or starter solenoid trouble
i also install a black gnd wire from starter bolt to eng wire hareness.
BTW i also put in a connector for quick disconnect on the smaller gauge wires and covered them all with a spark plug heat shield sock.
Don't feel so bad as i spent several days getting the wiring the way i wanted. But now along with my starter heat shield i have great piece of mind and don't think twice.
Hope this helps.
cardo0
Last edited by cardo0; Jun 18, 2005 at 04:00 PM. Reason: add info
