Well i have a new issue, my starter cratered the other day so i replaced it and the solenoid as my car had sat a couple days and it 20°f here I knew i would need to get gas pumping againby spinning the motor over a time or two before it started. it spun over 3 times for approx. 5 sec per spin now on a full battery my comet gets a solenoid click and nothing. Also multi meter says no voltage on starter side with solenoid engaged. did I fry my new solenoid?
the battery cable from the solenoid to the start could be bad. do you have battery voltage at the starter post on the solenoid when the key is turned to crank?
after you checked that all the connections are snug, see if you have voltage going to the solenoid itself, remove the plug on the "s" terminal of the solenoid, put a voltage meter between plug and ground it. I you have someone turn the ignition switch to crank over, you should see 12 volts. If you do not see anything, possible that there is a break at that plug, in which case while someone is turning the key to crank position, you jiggle the wire/plug to see if you get any reading, if not, other possiblity is a poor connection at the ignition switch, or where the switch itself is. A plunger from the key moves a slide switch to make contact. Sometimes the contact slides get dirty/worn/corroded and you may have to clean. Only thing, it is located on the steering column itself and can be a pain to get at, you might beable to get contact cleaner spray nozzle to squirt into switch and that might do it...... First I would just check to see if you do have voltage to the solenoid.......good luck! PS I had the same problem, between bad plug and dirty ignition switch... Did you try jumping the solenoid directly to see if the starter would turn over??? remove plug on "s" connector and jumper from there to "+" of battery, if solenoid is good, will turn over. If it does turn over, then it is possible there is a break in the wiring between ign switch and plug to "s" side of solenoid......
yes i get 12v at s when turning the key, if i tighten any more i will likely twist the posts off the solenoid, i will look into the starter switch and the grounds howeverbecause my battery ground is taped almost its whole length.
That's probably ur problem area. It was taped up for a reason; that wire does not need to be taped. Someone taped it probably cuz they had a break in the insulation or some other reason. Once u look into it - it may be obvioius why it is taped.
pulled the ground it looked like s*** I also noticed a small brown wire that was melted through coming up from the harness behind the alternator , I traced it to the front end of my valve cover and a melted connector with about 6 inches of black wire on the other side, I'll snap some pics and put em up in a bit. I have a lunch to pack atm.
sorry to hear about your fired wiring, once you post some pictures, we might beable to help you, I have factory wiring diagrams for 73 and 74 Mav/Comets. Other members may have diagrams for other years, basic wiring is pretty much the same for most years.... probably first thing is to figure out what caused the damage, then replace the damaged wiring with new........guess replacing that ground would be in order!
pictures as promised. The wire appears to be light brown in a section i cleaned off, & it got melted by the exhaust manifold though i have no clue as to what happened to the connector or the end where of the wire or where it goes.
can you trace back the damaged wire to where it either goes to another connector or back into the wiring harness?? the only brown wire I see in the wiring diagram is brown w/pink strip that comes out of the electronic module and into a 3 plug rubber connector at rear of engine. According to my wiring diagram, there suppose to be a "starter interlock override reset switch" mounted on the RH Fender Apron, don't know if all cars had them though, basically a reset button. Whether or not that fired wire has anything to do with your problem? If you can trace it backwards, might beable to locate on the wiring diagram to see what or where it goes...
I'll have to look in the morning but i believe it goes back to the box thats under the relay by the battery
the small brown wire enters the harness and goes to the alternator, or at least it looks that way it could go to the back of the engine though... ill go look some more
have you tried placing a jumper wire across the "s" terminal on the starter solenoid (remove the plug first) and "+" side of the solenoid or to the "+" of the battery??? this should turn the starter over, if it does not, then the solenoid is shot....don't think that brown wire has anything to do with the starter/solenoid. make sure car is in park with e-brake on and stand to the side (safety first!), you don't have to secure the jumper wire, just do a quick touch, starter should crank over if solenoid is good. with this test, you do not have to turn on or use the ignition key at all..........
