Starter wiring help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
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From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
Starter wiring help
I'm to the starter on my rebuild, it's a Jegs mini high-torque starter.
Looking at the pictures can you tell me with the hookups available on the starter , where do these existing wires connect?
The purple wire is now a blue and the rest I believe are all orange/red.
Please be as basic as possible as this is definitely not my area of expertise!
Looking at the pictures can you tell me with the hookups available on the starter , where do these existing wires connect?
The purple wire is now a blue and the rest I believe are all orange/red.
Please be as basic as possible as this is definitely not my area of expertise!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 289
Likes: 32
The two ring terminals with the large 3/8" eyes go onto the top lug and the purple wire goes to the 1/4" male blade terminal. You'll have to cut the ring terminal off that purple wire and crimp a 1/4" female blade terminal onto it. The remaining wire can be cut off or ignored if it's a 1974 or later C3. It would have been for sending 12 volts to the coil for starting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Wrong colors just complicate things!
Connect the RED wires to the big terminal on the new starter.
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
Connect the RED wires to the big terminal on the new starter.
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
Connect the RED wires to the big terminal on the new starter.
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
If purple is now blue it connects to the small terminal on your new starter.
You can test it by turning the key to START and confirm that it only gets 12 volts with the key in START.
The Green is not needed on the new starter so tape it off.
The Black was originally the ground for the wiper and fan motor and connected to a bell housing or starter bolt.
72 schematic:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...GE5N2EzZGI2Mjc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Check to see if the black changes back to black again further up. It looks like someone did some repair work on the harness. That wire should go up and split going to the wiper motor and also the heater blower motor. On mine, I ran and new larger black wire, it makes the blower motor work better.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
Check to see if the black changes back to black again further up. It looks like someone did some repair work on the harness. That wire should go up and split going to the wiper motor and also the heater blower motor. On mine, I ran and new larger black wire, it makes the blower motor work better.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
The only 'original' wire that is 'wrapped in cloth' goes to the + side of the coil.
Trace the wire in your picture and find out where it starts and ends.
Black wires are generally ground wires.
Red wires are generally 12 volts positive.
All your different color wires have me confused.
You need a meter or test light.
Last edited by Peterbuilt; Dec 27, 2017 at 05:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
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From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
Do not connect the battery yet!
The only 'original' wire that is 'wrapped in cloth' goes to the + side of the coil.
Trace the wire in your picture and find out where it starts and ends.
Black wires are generally ground wires.
Red wires are generally 12 volts positive.
All your different color wires have me confused.
You need a meter or test light.
The only 'original' wire that is 'wrapped in cloth' goes to the + side of the coil.
Trace the wire in your picture and find out where it starts and ends.
Black wires are generally ground wires.
Red wires are generally 12 volts positive.
All your different color wires have me confused.
You need a meter or test light.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
It worked fine prayer to the rebuild but with all new parts attached to the old block it's become difficult to figure out what I need and don't need.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
you have a wiring nightmare, hope all goes well!!! Ever thought of buying a new wiring harness, saves on the fire extinguisher bill
Looks like you are doing some other work on the car since some of the parts look freshly painted. Nice chrome headers etc.
Looks like you are doing some other work on the car since some of the parts look freshly painted. Nice chrome headers etc.
Last edited by lvmyvt76; Jan 4, 2018 at 07:47 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2017
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From: I don't do cities N/W Montana & Nor California
I'm down to that one black wire, I think it connected to one of the small solenoid connections on the old starter (One of the few things I didn't take pics of prior to pulling the motor)
I have a local hot rod guy coming over later in hopes he can finger this out...
I'm very close to starting the new motor, installing a new harness at this point would take forever, it's been 9 months ~ I need to drive my Vette something fierce !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Start a new post and you will get more replies.
First test and fully charge the battery.
Make sure that you clean and tighten the terminals on the battery.
Clean and tighten the ground connection to the frame, it's under the driver's seat but under the car.
With the battery disconnected clean and tighten the big positive connection on the starter solenoid.
Enjoy your new ride!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Thanks.
I'm down to that one black wire, I think it connected to one of the small solenoid connections on the old starter (One of the few things I didn't take pics of prior to pulling the motor)
I have a local hot rod guy coming over later in hopes he can finger this out...
I'm very close to starting the new motor, installing a new harness at this point would take forever, it's been 9 months ~ I need to drive my Vette something fierce !
I'm down to that one black wire, I think it connected to one of the small solenoid connections on the old starter (One of the few things I didn't take pics of prior to pulling the motor)
I have a local hot rod guy coming over later in hopes he can finger this out...
I'm very close to starting the new motor, installing a new harness at this point would take forever, it's been 9 months ~ I need to drive my Vette something fierce !
When converting to a two pole mini starter you should simplify things by changing to something like a Pertronix ignition in your stock distributor as there is no 3rd pole provision for the 12v booster wire on the starter. Also,Lectric Limited will sell you a complete stock engine wire harness for about 200 bucks and it kind of looks like you need it.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Dec 28, 2017 at 11:39 PM.
