Electrical Problem / Insanity, Starter issue Options

[jsaum]

Before I go totally insane I'm hoping someone can help me through trouble shooting a problem with the ignition switch not actuating the starter. First a little information, I have a late model year 1972 1.7 with the fuel injection removed and a carburetor installed. After six months of working on the car I've finally gotten to the point where I have installed the motor with a new starter The car has been apart for 12 years sitting in the garage. First the starter failed to work when I tried to turn it over. Thinking the new starter was bad I took it off and had it tested this morning at the auto parts store it works fine. I also had the battery checked and it is good as well.

I put the starter back in and it worked four or five times so I thought it was fixed. I then hooked up the fuel line and went to try and start it and the starter wouldn't work again!#@%###. I can jump it across the positive battery cable to the solenoid and it works. I have 12 volts on the yellow wire to the started solenoid when it is disconnected and 8.5 volts when it is connected when the key is turned. I have checked the relay board at pin # 6 and I have 12 volts there when the key is turned with the connector off. I ran a jumper wire to the solenoid from pin# 6 on the relay board and the voltage goes down to 8.5 when the key is turned to start so I think I have eliminated that the yellow wire is bad from the relay board to the starter solenoid.

I can't tell from the schematic my manual if there are other things in the circuit I should check. I'm wondering if my ignition switch is bad.

Anyone have any ideas or insight? Any suggestions or directions would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks,
Jsaum

[904svo]

Make sure the ground strap is installed between the transmission and the body on the back of the transmission.

[rick 918-S]

Make sure the ground strap is installed between the transmission and the body on the back of the transmission.

Second the ground strap as a possible cause of a slow turning starter that does not allow a hot engine to crank and just generally wreeks havoc on the electrical stuff. Also I think I remember reading the gear box is effected by the lack of a ground strap. Myth or urban legend?

But I would say it sounds much more likely you have a bad switch. You could test the switch at the dash end to be sure you don't have a broken or shorting wire running back to your solenoid.