Dart not cranking after replacing wiring. Please Help!

[Mike Costa]

1966 Dart. Just swapped the under dash harness because it was all chopped up and was having lighting and other power issues.

Car started fine before the swap. Now it won’t crank. When I try and crank, the oil light dims but no solenoid kick in. There is 1 connector left unplugged on iginition switch. It is ground. I don’t remember if this was connected before. It’s not part of molded connector. Voltage drops about a volt when it tries. Seems like a grounding issue maybe? It cranks no problem when I jump the solenoid. Any suggestions? It has to be something under the dash.

Thank you!

 

[67Dart273]

Stick or automatic? Can you hear the starter relay click in?

Get a meter / test lamp and see if you have voltage on either of the small blade ''push on" terminals on the starter relay

Also take a screwdriver and jumper across the two largest (bare) terminals of the relay. See if it cranks.

Anything else work? Dome? park/ tail headlights? Brake lights? Turn signals? (key on?)

 

[Mike Costa]

It cranks when I jumped the relay. The horn works. I am getting 11.5 volts at both of the push on terminals on the relay. I don’t hear the relay doing anything but the oil light dims.


Not sure if lights work because all the bulbs are blown from the last problem. (This is why I changed harnesses) thanks for your help

Stick or automatic? Can you hear the starter relay click in?

Get a meter / test lamp and see if you have voltage on either of the small blade ''push on" terminals on the starter relay

Also take a screwdriver and jumper across the two largest (bare) terminals of the relay. See if it cranks.

Anything else work? Dome? park/ tail headlights? Brake lights? Turn signals? (key on?)

 

[Mike Costa]

Automatic also



QUOTE="Mike Costa, post: 1971880296, member: 52050"]It cranks when I jumped the relay. The horn works. I am getting 11.5 volts at both of the push on terminals on the relay. I don’t hear the relay doing anything but the oil light dims.


Not sure if lights work because all the bulbs are blown from the last problem. (This is why I changed harnesses) thanks for your help[/QUOTE]

 

[67Dart273]

If you are getting voltage at BOTH the push on relay terminals, you have found part of the problem. One terminal receives battery voltage "in start" from the key, that wire comes out of the bulkhead connector. The remaining terminal connects to a wire which runs down over the top of the transmission, and grounds via the neutral safety switch

First thing to do is simply hold the key in "start" with one hand, and work the shifter from park to neutral and back "jiggle and wiggle" If it tries to start or at least clicks, your linkage is likely out of adjustment

 

[Mike Costa]

That was it! This was my first time posting on here. I’ve had the car 20 years. Thanks 67dart273!

If you are getting voltage at BOTH the push on relay terminals, you have found part of the problem. One terminal receives battery voltage "in start" from the key, that wire comes out of the bulkhead connector. The remaining terminal connects to a wire which runs down over the top of the transmission, and grounds via the neutral safety switch

First thing to do is simply hold the key in "start" with one hand, and work the shifter from park to neutral and back "jiggle and wiggle" If it tries to start or at least clicks, your linkage is likely out of adjustment

 

[RedFish]

Lowering the steering column will change shifter linkage adjustment ( not sure why/how ) and neutral safety switch operation. So I'm guessing you did lower the column.
Resetting this adjustment is under the car which kind of sux. I think the factory service manual states set it up with trans and shifter in neutral positions. Refer to the manual to confirm that.

 

[Mike Costa]

Thanks redfish. That was it

Lowering the steering column will change shifter linkage adjustment ( not sure why/how ) and neutral safety switch operation. So I'm guessing you did lower the column.
Resetting this adjustment is under the car which kind of sux. I think the factory service manual states set it up with trans and shifter in neutral positions. Refer to the manual to confirm that.

 

[Pawned]

did you try to hot wire it and see if it runs. which it should unless the new wiring was really screwed up