You are correct—the 1955 Chrysler service
manual does not seem to have any information on the important and complex starter
relay. I have purchased a CD with the wiring on it and have studied my
1955 Chrysler 300 wiring carefully and can offer the following insights:
The big single terminal may have up to
five connections as the hot source from the negative battery terminal.
The number of connections depends on whether the car has power windows, power
seat, or both or neither.
- the
side lug from the #1 black cable that connects the “hot” negative
battery terminal to the starter solenoid.
- #6
black and red to power window circuit breaker (inside drivers side kick
panel)
- #6
black to power seat circuit breaker-ditto
- #8
red to ammeter and most other lighting, accessories and fans.
- #12
green to horn relay “B” terminal
The three smaller terminals have stamped
letters by them and reading left to right:
IGN: #16 (?) black &
yellow to ignition switch “S” terminal (This lead provides
the hot 6-Volt signal to the starter solenoid ARMature)
SOL: #10 brown to starter
solenoid (This lead provides a high-amp hot 6-Volt signal to the starter
solenoid)
ARM: #16 brown to safety switch (the
neutral safety switch is closed when the impaler (dash-mounted shift lever) is
in neutral and provides a ground to the “ARMature” of the solenoid ).
If your safety switch is not working, you can wire this terminal to ground to
get you going (in any gear—watch out)
I have a work in progress that is an Excel
spreadsheet that is color coded for all the wiring on the 1955 Chrysler 300
2-door hardtop. I will gladly send this to anyone interested, providing
they accept it as a work in progress and agree to advise me of any errors.
Convertibles and four–doors will be different, and as all should know, backup
lights and air conditioning were not available from the factory on the 1955
Chrysler 300’s. But many had them added by the dealer, along with
the missing rear-view mirrors(s).
C-300’ly,
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
1955 Chrysler C-300
From: Forward Look
Mopar Discussion List [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ted Blackington
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 5:23
PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] 55-56 Electrical
help needed on Imperial solenoid
A little on the fringe of the Forward
Look, but maybe someone has worked on a 55 N.Y. or Imp and can help.
On the inside fender wall, left side
(driver's) is a solenoid that has four terminals. There is a connection to the
heavy negative battery cable that goes to the starter. The heavy power supply
to the windows and seat is also connected there. Altogether there are four
large ring terminals anchored to that connection. I assume the others go to
headlights, etc.
Above the big terminal are three smaller
terminals. I have a collection of small ring terminal connectors but no idea of
where they go, except for the coil wire which I figured out by trial and error.
The solenoid box measures two and a half
inches by two inches., and is painted black.
I had to remove the connections when the
solenoid burned out, and have forgotten with time the correct wiring sequence.
My 56 N.Y. has a similar solenoid, but much smaller as it doesn't carry as
much amperage. It isn't any help with a comparison. I have the 55 shop manual,
but nowhere in the manual does it show the solenoid, just refers to it. It
doesn't tell fully what wires are connected where-
The car starts now in any gear, so the safety
isn't working.
Is there an external "strap"
connection from the big terminal to one of the small terminals?
I know there must be at least one
internal strap. I have had to connect one of the large ring terminals (goes to
the starter) to the small terminal-if connected to the large terminal the
engine immediately starts to turn over. Something ain't right!
Can someone go out to their garage and
check this wiring and let me know what to do?
Off site might be best, as there are
probably few owners of this model among our list mates.
A diagram (or where to find one) would be
very helpful.
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