Where to start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
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Where to start
When I turn the key I have power to everything but the starter. No click or anything. The starter can be jumped with the proverbial screwdriver and the car runs fine. Could it be the ignition switch? The voltmeter gauge does move to the negative when the key is in the start position.
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: York PA
From memory, on my 77, so dont beat me if I'm wrong > On top of the stearing column down by the pedals there is a wiring harness that takes everything on your column -ignition, blinkers, 4 ways, ww wiper etc and distributes it from there. I might pull that harness out and test the circuit to your igintion switch before I started to disassemble anything else.
chuck
chuck
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 59
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From: York PA
Yea, could be the solinoid too. to test the key switch. You already know you have power to the starter. I'd get my manual out and find out what color wires go to the ignition switch. disconnect the battery. find out which wire is the initial start/ spring return/ the one that goes to the solenoid. connect your multi-meter and figure out which one makes the gauge jump when you turn the key. If the meter jumps the spring return works fine. and you say you have power to the starter so I wouldnt mess with that. But rather then going thru all that it might be easier to just figure out which color wire goes to the solinoid and check the key switch from there. If i remember right there are only 2-3 control wires to the solinoid.
Anybody else?
chuck
Anybody else?
chuck
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
What about the neutral safety switch. If an auto it is in the console a manual it is on the clutch pedal. There should be two big purple wires.
I see you have a manual. Check the switch on the clutch pedal. Thereis a small rod that goes to the switch. Sometimes it falls out or the switch just goes bad.
I see you have a manual. Check the switch on the clutch pedal. Thereis a small rod that goes to the switch. Sometimes it falls out or the switch just goes bad.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
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All safety switches have been bypassed. It appears the solenoid is ok when referring to the Haynes manual. I feel the wire to the s terminal wire is fried or shorted. I see the rod moving down into the ignition switch also.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 276
Likes: 2
From: Parkesburg PA
Do you have or DID your car have the factory alarm? When I tried to start my '77 the previous owner had used electrical tape on the two wires they spliced together to bypass the factory alarm switch...it fell apart and I had all the same problems you are having. I don't know it this helps or not but it was m experience. -Neal
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From: Forked River NJ
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Go back to the purple wires that you jumped. Do any of them have 12 volts. They should when the ignition switch is turned to the start position.
Just looked at the diagram. There should be a purple and a purple with white strip wire at the switch. The one with the white stripe comes from the ignition switch on the column. That should be carrying 12 volts to the clutch switch. Then through the clutch switch down to the starter. Follow those lines and you should have 12 volts somewhere. If not you have a bad ignition switch.
Just looked at the diagram. There should be a purple and a purple with white strip wire at the switch. The one with the white stripe comes from the ignition switch on the column. That should be carrying 12 volts to the clutch switch. Then through the clutch switch down to the starter. Follow those lines and you should have 12 volts somewhere. If not you have a bad ignition switch.
Last edited by Gordonm; Jan 5, 2010 at 07:50 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 59
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From: York PA
I dont know what year you have but on mine (77) was the first year the high beams could be switched on the column. I didnt know it but the previous owner had reinstalled the floor high beam switch and routed the ignition wire throught the floor switch as a hidden kill switch, meaning if you tapped the switch you had zero, nada when you tried to start it. Well I'm listening to tunes in my garage and I must have hit the floor switch and when I tried to start it> you guessed it nada! I never thought about checking it. I ended replacing the starter switch on the column which I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy. By chance you dont have hidden kill switch you may have hit?
chuck
chuck