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Starting Problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter gray85
  • Start date Start date
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gray85

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I am helping a friend with a starting problem on a 79. We replaced the starter, battery (fully charged), checked all the fuses and no luck starting. All the power is on, but no clicking or any sounds at the starter when the key is turned over. The car is an automatic.

After reading some simular posts it seems that the problem could be with the ignition switch. I guess we will need to do some checks with a volt meter.

Any other suggestions? I assume that there is a neutral safty switch. Is there any other switches or relays?
 
Two suggestions:

  • Have you tried to short across the seleniod on the starter to see if it will start? With the key in the normal running position, short the starter seleniod and see if the car turns over and starts.
  • If you haven't tried this yet, put the transmission in Neutral, and try to start it

It could very well be the starter switch. The first test would help confirm this assumption. The second test would help lean toward the ignition switch or the Park/Neutral position switch. From here you can maybe get a direction for more trouble shooting ;)

Bud
 
you can test the ignition switch without pulling the collum apart. check to see if you are getting power to the starter solenoid with a volt meter. the little wire on the starter should see around 12 volts when you hit the key.
 
Finally got back to fixing this problem. Took the colmn apart and replaced the switch, which was the not the problem. My thought now is the neutral safety switch or the ignition module.

Question, if you take a positive lead to the solenoid and the car starts does that mean the neutral safety switch is bad?

If the
 
gray85 said:
Question, if you take a positive lead to the solenoid and the car starts does that mean the neutral safety switch is bad?

Probably bad or out of adjustment; the neutral safety switch is the only item in that purple wire between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid.
:beer
 
I am confused, I checked the ignition switch and neutral safety switch and they are both good. In fact I get 13 volts at the starter (solenoid lead). I am starting to see smoke when I turn the car to the start position. Would a bad ignition module be the cause? I get the feeling that I have a short, possible at the ignition module.

Looking at the wiring layout, when the key is turned to the start position: ignition, battery and solenoid are connected. I have a good connection from the ignition switch to the starter. So my thought is that the short is at the ignition module.


Help!!!
 

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