Re: IML: 66LeBaron-turn the key...IT's ALIVE!

[<dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi again Chris!....well, it doesn't make any sense to me either but....I checked the bulkhead connectors that included the YELLOW wire from the starter-relay, and found that the cinnector itself was in pretty good condition. I then replaced it back onto the firwall (from the engine side....reconnected the battery, put the key into the ignition and turned the key, but still nothing!!.....then went looking under the dash to try and track down the RED wire coming from the battery/starter relay thru the firewall to the Ammeter gauge. Eventually got my hand and flashlight into the back area of the Ammeter but didn't see anything obviously wrong (or loose or burnt)...tried to find where the wiring went from the glove box mounted TrunkRelease but never could find those wires!.....checked several times after messing around under the dash to see if mybe ????? I had done something which caused the problem to go away!....STILL NOTHING when I reconnect the battery and turn the key... So, I figuire, what the heck, I have a new ignition switch and it JUST MIGHT be the cause of the problem (according to the wiring diagrams) and besides, the key doesn't fit to cylinder lock just right anyway!...so I manage to remove the old ignition switch, leaving the lock cylinder in the switch and replace both the ignition switch and the lock cylinder with brand new items from Start Auto PArts in BAnning. I again hook up the batterey cables and turn the new key....still nothing!!! Its now starting to get dark here and I figure  that since I had bought a new Ballast Resistor I may as ell try hooking it up just for 'chuckles'! So, I unscrew the bolt holding the old resistor ontp the firwall and replace it with the new one....hook up the TWO wires and then again attach the posotive battery terminal cable I had removed before changing the resistor. Inserted my NEW key into the NEW ignition and  WALLA!!!!! the engine turns right over!!!!!  Before i questioned WHY this was now working I first said I was going to clean up everything (tools, testers, parts, reconnect fuse panel, put the AC vent hoses back on where I had taken them off for access purposes, etc. Then I started the car up and let it run a while. It sounds a little more 'rougher' and is missing a little but I'll chekc that out more tomorrow............So, I don't know WHY the new ballast resistor did the job and maybe it was something I had moved around when under the dash (under-the-dash work is NOT meant to be done by guys over 6'1" unless you're 18 !)..but for whever reson the car is now running. I still have an issue with the Ammeter gauge showing stuck on the CHARGE direction, at about 1/2 to the right.......I am REALLY hoping that its just 'stck' temporarily!

I was trying to trace through the wiring chart but I am going to need some help figuring out the 'how come?' for this !!!!!
Everything else i did, from moving wired under the dash to changing the ignition switch and the starter-relay all had checks done by turning the key to RUN before and after each new thing was tried....never had any change show up......it was always, turn-the-key-and-nothing..!! until after the ballast resistor was replaced.!!!
Well, hopefully the 'gremlins' are gone for now and will stay away a LONG time!!

Thanks again for your help and suggestions....and to all the IML's who helped me out...THANKS ALL!!
Dan Melnik
---- Chris Strohmeyer <chrisstroh@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 

=============
I don't see how it could of been the ballast then, it has NOTHING to do with 
preventing the starter from cranking. It must have been something else you 
have changed like the ignition switch, battery cables, or something like 
that.

Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Chris Strohmeyer" <chrisstroh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 11:35 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 66LeBaron-turn the key...IT's ALIVE!


> Hi Chris...and thanks for the reply. I don't understand what was going on 
> (or NOT going on) with the old ballast but when I turned the key I got 
> NOTHING! ..the starter didn't even 'click' or 'whine' or anything! 
> But....I'm VERY glad I got it working again before replacing some 
> expensive items while troubleshooting!!!
> Thanks again!!
> Dan Melnik
>
>
> ---- Chris Strohmeyer <chrisstroh@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> =============
> I've had a little experience on the ballast.  The ballast must have been
> "open" or in other words burned in two.  The ballast cuts the voltage to 
> the
> coil only while the car is RUNNING.  When you turn the key to crank and
> start the engine, the ballast is bypassed with a full 12 volts to the coil
> to make the spark hotter for ease of starting, Once you let off the 
> starter
> the ballast resistor takes over supplying 8-10 volts to the coil and saves
> your points from burning.  So with the ballast not working the engine 
> would
> have tried to start but wouldn't because once you let go of the starter
> there would be NO voltage going to the coil because of the faulty ballast
> resistor.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Chris
> 67 Imperial Convertible
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:46 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: 66LeBaron-turn the key...IT's ALIVE!
>
>
>> Hi All! Just wanted to thank everyone who offered their help and comments
>> on this problem with my 66 LeBaron!!
>> Well, I finally got it fixed!!!! I spent the afternoon crawling around
>> under the dash (definitely NOT a fun experience for anyone over
>> 6ft!...gonna have some sore muscles tomorrow!) looking for the connection
>> that goes to the Ammeter....I was sure it was the gauge or the ignition
>> switch!...... Ha!.......The ignition switch and lock-cylinder needed to 
>> be
>> changed anyway as the key never did sit 'just right' in the cylinder from
>> when I got the LeBaron. I now have one more key to carry around but thats
>> OK ! Just before it started getting dark I was ready to throw in the 
>> towel
>> for the day but decided to change one more thing, just since I had gotten
>> a new one at the parts stroe and figured 'what the heck! Since i have it,
>> I may as well put it in!'...so I changed the Ballast Resistor..... and 
>> the
>> car started right up!!!! I have looked thru the wiring diagrams but still
>> don't understand how this Ballast Resistor caused the condition I was
>> experiencing.....!?
>> Oh well, at least the car is running now. I still have to change the
>> POSITIVE battery cable to the starter, but that needed to be changed
>> (replaced) anyway....plus with all the messing around with that cable (on
>> and off) the past few days, the end that goes on the battery terminal has
>> gotten, shall we say, 'worse for wear'..! Anyway, thats a job for 
>> tomorrow
>> or ..?? I do know that I will DEFINITELY keep a spare Ballast Resistor in
>> the trunk from now on for each of my Imperials!!!....which, if I remember
>> right, is something that several IMl members have strongly suggested
>> anyway!!!!
>> I do want to thank you all very much for your help! .....Hopefully, I can
>> now move on to meeting with Dick Benjamin and having his friend (Rich) 
>> let
>> me know what a good repaint of the LeBaron will set me back!!!
>>
>> I think I will be looking for a Ammeter Gauge!!! (its STILL showing in 
>> the
>> CHARGE zone and apprears to be stuck...hope its just temporary!
>>
>> Thanks again!
>> Dan Melnik.
>>
>>
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>
>
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