|
|
Expert
Posts: 1476
  
Location: Pacific Northwest | Ignition Problems! I'm trying to wrap my head around this and I'm coming to you all to see if anyone may have some additional insight.
('61 Pioneer 361 manual trans previous owner installed an orange box and distributer)
I had the battery disconnected to do some cooling system repairs. That's it. I reconnected the battery power and the starter starts turning the engine over!?!?!? So it's an open ground in the ignition system. I pulled the starter, replaced the solenoid and visually inspected the brushes, all looked good. I bought a new starter relay, but whos to say if I got a good one. When I disconnect the ground to the starter from the relay and I turn the ignition switch the relay will actuate. If I reattach the ground the starter turns, no ignition switch. Only thing I haven't swapped out is the ignition switch, which I am working on right now. Sound familiar? Any ideas?
Andrew |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | This is what I would try, with the ground to the starter disconnected, and the ign switch both in the on and start position with a test light see if the there is power at the starter cable / terminal.
Should only be only on at the start position. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
 
Location: Perth Australia | Before you get carried away ripping stuff out, look here and learn how it works, then you will know how to test it and find the culprit 
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1961/61Dodge%20V8.JPG
Thats a wiring diagram, the start circuit is pretty simple, if it helps, you can use a high lite pen to follow the lines (wires) and help block out what your not interested in seeing
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Oh, Sorry Ray, but if your suggesting to remove the earth cable from the block, thats an exceptionally bad idea because
if the starter activates and that cable is not there, the engine will look for other ways to provide an earth, sush as speedo and trans selector cables.
These will melt and internally weld, at best, its just these cables, but minor earth wiring inside the harness can also melt, thats worse.
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 888
Location: Peoples Republic of Oregon | ...orange box and distributor...... Is this a reference to the Mopar Electronic Ignition package??
If so, replace the ballast resistor. They will die at any time for no reason. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1476
Location: Pacific Northwest | I figured it out. Thank you all for your help. I will post up some pictures this weekend. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | ABloch - 2016-06-11 12:26 AM I figured it out. Thank you all for your help. I will post up some pictures this weekend.
Any update ? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1476
Location: Pacific Northwest | First picture is from the vantage that most of us see the relay. Second picture shows where the hot to the starter was touching the "SOL" to the starter. Doh!
 (Relay.jpg)
 (Relay1.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 Relay.jpg (84KB - 149 downloads)
Relay1.jpg (70KB - 144 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | It's always the little things, huh? (darn Murphy) Thanks for posting. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | when i used the starter relay on mine , i made sure to trim the cable eyes to not come in contact if ever they came loose . i never thought as that being your problem ------------------------------------------later |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1476
Location: Pacific Northwest | Me neither Chuck. Which is why I came to you guys. I posted in the am and had it figured out by noon. I was looking at the old relay and saw the contact char mark and the proverbial light bulb went off in my head. I swung around to the front of the car and I could see it clear as day. From working over the fender I would have never seen it. Sometimes it's all about the angle. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | You know whats getting me?
You said you connected the battery and the engine started to crank, then you replaced (or fixed) the starter, still doing it, then you replaced the start relay and it was still doing it, then you have shown what the problem was
So, when you messed with the battery, you pulled on the cable, making the cable turn and contact/short out the other terminal, ok that happens, but then you fitted a new relay and duplicated the fault
You need to go out to the car and pat it on the fender and apologize to it for swearing at it and calling it names, then go sit in the corner for a while reading out load the electrical section of the workshop manual, oh, and no beer is allowed.
|
|
| |
Ignition Problem!?
