Phillipe, Have you checked your battery cables with an ohmmeter? I know it sounds goofy, but here is what happened to us. I changed the battery cable to ground on my son's Ford pickup truck. It is a short cable, about 12", that goes to the starter relay located on the firewall near the battery. Not long after, sometimes it would start and sometimes it wouldn't. I can't tell you how much we spent on replacing fusible links, etc. Then one day, I placed the ohmmeter across it, end to end. Of course, it should go to zero since that would be a short. Nothing on the meter (open). I replaced the still new looking cable with another one and that was the end of the starting problems. If you would have told me that the "new" cable was the source of our problems, I would have thought that you had some loose screws! But apparently not all new cables are made right; at least in our case. I hope that you find that frustrating problem soon, Jim -----Original Message----- From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Philippe COURANT Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 5:43 AM To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [FWDLK] '57 starter problem (2) Hi, I don't think that the problem came from neutral safety switch: the starter relay "clicks" so the primary wiring of the relay is OK. I try to bypass the relay, by wiring (with a screwdriver) the solenoid end and the + 12; in this case the starter must revolve with or w/o ignition on. No motion of starter, no click on solenoid but a spark when i shortwire the two prongs. It seems that if something goes wrong in the starter, the solenoid can't be activate. I don't have internal wiring of the Chrysler (Autolite) solenoid but i think it's the same than the '58 Buick solenoid (i have it on FSM..): two coils: the "pull in coil" and the "holding coil". - The "pull in coil" is wired between "S" solenoid end (go to solenoid contact on starter relay = + 12V) and terminal end of starter motor. - The "hold in " coil is wired between "S" solenoid end (same as above) and ground. When you start, the "pull in coil" is "grounded" through the starter (brushes, collector, etc..).When this coil is energised, the plunger moves and contacts the third end of the solenoid (+12 = big cable from battery) and the terminal end of starter so this coil is de-energized (+ 12 on each coil ends) but now the "hold in coil" has sufficient strenght to hold the plunger. So if the "pull in coil" wiring is not completed to ground, the solenoid couldn't be activated and ther's no motion of solenoid. (.. 2 hours later ..): i've remove the starter from car and wire it "on the ground"; no rev. When i put the + 12 to the terminal end of starter (bypassing the solenoid), a spark but no motion .. The starter is bad, perhaps the brushes doesn't contact. It was the same thing two days ago; i removed the starter end plate, cleaned the collector and brushes (which are OK but i don't know the size of them) and the starter ran.. Perhaps the brushes springs are weak ? I'll put my spare starter and rebuilt the other. -- Philippe COURANT (Pau, France) Imperial 57 Crown convertible Buick 58 Roadmaster sedan - American Car Club de France (ACCF) : http://www.accf.com - Chrysler Imperial France : http://www.ifrance.com/c-i-f - Cadillac " Standard of Excellence " : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-cad - SportsCars : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-sprtcar -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Need an answer fast? Search the 17,000+ pages of the Forward Look Mailing List archives at http://www.forwardlook.net/search.htm -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Need an answer fast? Search the 17,000+ pages of the Forward Look Mailing List archives at http://www.forwardlook.net/search.htm
|