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

[Chris Hawkins <imperial1966@xxxxxxxxx>]

Congrats!!  Glad to hear it is running again!  Of
course, it is still disconcerting to not know exactly
what the problem was.  But at least as you replace old
parts with new you eliminate those as possible problem
areas.

Personally, I don't think it was the ballast resistor.
 It is by-passed during the cranking process.  If it
is bad it simply cuts the car off after it starts when
the ignition switch is turned from 'start' to 'run'.  

A more likely scenario - given all the other things
you did - is the bulkhead connector.  I had a friend
who was cruising along in his 66 Dodge Monaco when the
car suddenly went dead.  No response from the key,
etc.  Turned out to be a corroded bulkhead connector. 
 The whole wiring harness unplugs from the firewall. 
Might be a good idea to check it out.
Barring that, the engine circuit runs through the
ammeter.  A bypass may be in order.  Ask Dick about
that possibility.

Sorry you went through all this.  But at least you
have attacked and upgraded areas of possible future
problems.

As far as running rough - make sure all your spark
plug wires are firmly attached.  On both ends.  You
may have knocked one loose along the way.

Happy motoring!

Chris

--- dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> 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! 
=== message truncated ===



 
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