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Old Nov 26, 2005 | 08:37 PM
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Default Wiring Mystery -starter

Have my 78 apart for the last two years. Reinstalled my engine wiring harness and wired up my starter. I get no power to either of the two solenoid main leads. Does the alternator have to be wired to complete the circuit (it's not). I have a new battery. I have power on the main high tension wire to the starter and good chassis and engine ground. Wires hooked to the starter are red, red/white and purple to engage the solenoid. Turning the key does not send any power to the purple wire either? Everything worked fine before.......

Could it be the neutral safety switch, or a fuse? Where is the NSS located?
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Old Nov 26, 2005 | 08:53 PM
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I mentioned the alternator not being hooked up...either is the HEI..could that have anything to do with completing the circuit?
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Old Nov 26, 2005 | 10:42 PM
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No, you don't need the alternator wired. The neutral saftey switch in under the shifter console, next to the shifter. Make sure it is plugged in and good. (Power on both thick purlpe wires when key is in start position).
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Old Nov 26, 2005 | 11:55 PM
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The alternator probably does not need to be hooked up but the horn relay is where all the power is distributed to the rest of the car. If the horn relay is not hooked up you will not get any power.
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Old Nov 27, 2005 | 01:13 PM
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What circuit feeds the horn relay - must still be something not wired up?. I must not be completing a power circuit somewhere. Only the engine bay wiring harness was removed (from the commection block on the firewall forward. Nothing inside the car touched. Is there a fuse for the NS Switch?
I do not have the, alternator, wiper motor, or HEI hooked up. No power to the purple with key on
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Old Nov 27, 2005 | 05:45 PM
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The purple wire should only have power when the ignition switch (key) is held in the "start" position.

This is from from my 73 wiring harness.

With HEI you will probably not have the yellow wire, but the rest should be similar. The large red wire connects to the same terminal on the solenoid with the positive battery cable, that is the wire that supplies power to the car.
Have you checked the fuseable link to be sure it is not blown?
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Old Nov 27, 2005 | 05:53 PM
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Don't forget about the clutch safety switch.
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Old Nov 28, 2005 | 07:52 AM
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Well have resolved the problem...after dorking with it for many hours...long story short, bad chassis ground was the culprit. Even though the engine frame strap was on..it wasn't making a good connection.
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