Electrical Gremlins......Conundrum

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wkroncke17

wkroncke17

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About to pull my hair out with electrical issues.....Maybe it's just me, It's my least favorite or skilled thing to do.
I have Stock wiring harnesses in the car, the Under dash one is original.
I have the battery in the trunk - wired to a shutoff switch, I'm just working on getting power to the ignition switch and be able to bump the starter over - with the stock keyed switch.
From the Battery, I have 1/0 gauge wire to a bulkhead connector in the firewall, from there, 2 gauge wire to starter.
Also from the post I have the blue wire from the bulkhead connector (With the fuseable link)
I have the relay under the dash - hot wire to the post, and the correct wire from the factory bulkhead connector (Yellow) to the angled post on the relay.
As soon as I turn the power on, the starter is cranking......That's not right.
Any experiences like this on here?
I'm close with the car, it's driving me nuts!!!
I may be leaving out important details to help describe what's going on, ask away if you'd like, I'll do my best.
As always, advice and input is very much appreciated!!
Thanks all!!

Demon Now1.jpg
 
wkroncke17 said:
About to pull my hair out with electrical issues.....Maybe it's just me, It's my least favorite or skilled thing to do.
I have Stock wiring harnesses in the car, the Under dash one is original.
I have the battery in the trunk - wired to a shutoff switch, I'm just working on getting power to the ignition switch and be able to bump the starter over - with the stock keyed switch.
From the Battery, I have 1/0 gauge wire to a bulkhead connector in the firewall, from there, 2 gauge wire to starter.
Also from the post I have the blue wire from the bulkhead connector (With the fuseable link)
I have the relay under the dash - hot wire to the post, and the correct wire from the factory bulkhead connector (Yellow) to the angled post on the relay.
As soon as I turn the power on, the starter is cranking......That's not right.
Any experiences like this on here?
I'm close with the car, it's driving me nuts!!!
I may be leaving out important details to help describe what's going on, ask away if you'd like, I'll do my best.
As always, advice and input is very much appreciated!!
Thanks all!!

View attachment 1715798851
Click to expand...

Post a pic of the starter relay to show how it's wired. Also, is it a new relay?
 
wkroncke17 said:
I have the battery in the trunk - wired to a shutoff switch,


From the Battery, I have 1/0 gauge wire to a bulkhead connector in the firewall, from there, 2 gauge wire to starter.
Also from the post I have the blue wire from the bulkhead connector (With the fuseable link)
Click to expand...
Sorry my friend from your description I'm confused You ran the battery cable "where?" Maybe to the stud on the starter relay? I'd have run it direct to the big starter stud and a SMALLER wire up to the starter relay, then taken your feeds off there

wkroncke17 said:
Also from the post I have the blue wire from the bulkhead connector (With the fuseable link)......
Click to expand...

Don't know what blue, the fuse link is normally connected to the red ammeter wire Can you explain



wkroncke17 said:
I have the relay under the dash - hot wire to the post, and the correct wire from the factory bulkhead connector (Yellow) to the angled post on the relay.
As soon as I turn the power on, the starter is cranking......
Click to expand...

First thing I'd do is separate the yellow wire from the start relay and then at least you can start to troubleshoot

So far as cranking, don't discount a short---maybe either of the cables at the starter is bridging across to the other one, same deal at the start relay

If that gets you nowhere, with the yellow "start" wire disconnected from the relay does it still crank? If not test the yell it should be "dead." Wiggle key see if it comes alive intermittent

If engine cranks with yellow pulled loose, pull the big wire off the starter relay "square screw" which goes to the start relay and try again. If it still cranks it's down at the starter, either one of the wires on the solenoid is bridging, or there is something wrong with the starter or solenoid
 
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wkroncke17 said:
About to pull my hair out with electrical issues.....Maybe it's just me, It's my least favorite or skilled thing to do.
I have Stock wiring harnesses in the car, the Under dash one is original.
I have the battery in the trunk - wired to a shutoff switch, I'm just working on getting power to the ignition switch and be able to bump the starter over - with the stock keyed switch.
From the Battery, I have 1/0 gauge wire to a bulkhead connector in the firewall, from there, 2 gauge wire to starter.
Also from the post I have the blue wire from the bulkhead connector (With the fuseable link)
I have the relay under the dash - hot wire to the post, and the correct wire from the factory bulkhead connector (Yellow) to the angled post on the relay.
As soon as I turn the power on, the starter is cranking......That's not right.
Any experiences like this on here?
I'm close with the car, it's driving me nuts!!!
I may be leaving out important details to help describe what's going on, ask away if you'd like, I'll do my best.
As always, advice and input is very much appreciated!!
Thanks all!!

View attachment 1715798851
Click to expand...
AWESOME looking car !! That dude is nice !! I'm no help on your electrical issues !! Sorry ! 67DART273 can tho !!
 
Thanks Rmoore!! It's a long work in progress.
67Dart273, I appreciate the advice!!!
I'll take some pics as soon as I get home and will do my best to explain what I've done.

Thanks all!!
 
Ran + battery wire to bulkhead connector at the firewall. From there, 2 gauge wire directly to big post on starter.
From small stud on starter, wire run through firewall directly to square stud on relay.
I was very careful making these wires, good ends with shrink tubing over the ends, then put them in the heat protective wrap.

0B268C8C-9D40-48C6-833B-87CB5C8677B3.jpeg
 
The yellow wire coming out of the factory bulkhead harness I routed under the dash, had to splice a longer wire (red) and ran it to the angled blade on relay.
the connector that goes to the neutral safety switch I connected to a temporary ground.
The blue wire with the fusible link is also re-routed to the relay at the square connector with the screw. I used the factory end and sliced in the same gauge wire so it could reach.
The MSD box and relay are mounted under the dash, MSD not hooked up yet, taking one step at a time.

8E7EF3A8-1CA3-47EB-8FA8-24E8875524E8.jpeg


EBE43662-CBC8-425B-AE1A-1664609973EF.jpeg
 
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If you disconnect either of the flag "push on" connectors from the relay does the starter stop?
 
67Dart273 said:
If you disconnect either of the flag "push on" connectors from the relay does the starter stop?
Click to expand...

unplugged the yellow push on connector from the angled connection, starter still turned over as soon as power is turned on.
 
OK next step is to unscrew the solenoid wire at the start relay and try again. If it still cranks get right to the starter and inspect it
 
67Dart273 said:
OK next step is to unscrew the solenoid wire at the start relay and try again. If it still cranks get right to the starter and inspect it
Click to expand...
Took off that one, when power is turned on, starter cranks.
I was sure hoping to not have to take the damn starter off again.
I made new cables and was extra careful to crimp them well and put shrink tube over the ends.
 
67Dart273 said:
OK next step is to unscrew the solenoid wire at the start relay and try again. If it still cranks get right to the starter and inspect it
Click to expand...

Does the relay itself need to be grounded good?
I put it on the metal plate under the dash, but mounted the metal plate with rubber bushings behind it thus definitely not making a good ground.
 
Depends on what relay. How many "push on" flag terminals does it have. "Stick cars" before they had clutch safety switches had to ground the relay and only had one "push on" terminal for the start wire. All automatic cars, and cars 70/ after with the clutch switch have two push on terminals. One gets start voltage from the key, the other goes to ground through the neutral safety switch or clutch switch.

Sounds like next step is at the starter. Examine the terminals closely before you remove it. Might be easy for the terminal / wire ends to be touching and jumper the batt terminal to the solenoid, even a "stray strand" of wire
 
67Dart273 said:
Depends on what relay. How many "push on" flag terminals does it have. "Stick cars" before they had clutch safety switches had to ground the relay and only had one "push on" terminal for the start wire. All automatic cars, and cars 70/ after with the clutch switch have two push on terminals. One gets start voltage from the key, the other goes to ground through the neutral safety switch or clutch switch.

Sounds like next step is at the starter. Examine the terminals closely before you remove it. Might be easy for the terminal / wire ends to be touching and jumper the batt terminal to the solenoid, even a "stray strand" of wire
Click to expand...

67Dart273, thank you for your patience and help…..if you were within reach you’d smack me!
And I would damn well deserve it.
After checking, double checking and taking off the starter to inspect the connections, I realized I ran the small wire from the starter to the stud instead of the square screw connector.
Thus when the power was applied it was like jumping the 2 studs with a screwdriver.
What an idiot.
From here on out I plan on taking my time and realize I have all winter to get it ready for spring time.
Next up is wiring the MSD, then wiring the alternator through the kill switch.
Thanks again guys.
 
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