Starting Issue

[Eggo]

Hi, my car isn’t turning over anymore, I’ve not been able to get it started yet since I imported it a few weeks ago but it has previously been turning over but now it won’t anymore. I took the starter off and checked that and it seems absolutely fine and will turn over when cables 1 and 2 are shorted together. Cables 3 and 4 both read voltages when the key is turned in the ignition to try and start it, are either of these supposed to be an earth? Please could someone explain how is the relay grounded? Really confused and want to get it running before it’s registered in the uk as I’m so keen to drive it!

 

[eldubb440]

I took apart one of those relays recently...... looked fine on the outside, totally rotted and rusted on the inside.... of course I tested it first

 

[Big Bad Dad]

What car and transmission? There is a switch that requires the auto transmission car to be in park or neutral before it will allow the engine to be cranked by the switch. Perhaps it is out of adjustment? And 1970 or later straight drives had a reverse lockout and perhaps a switch requiring the clutch pedal to be pushed.

 

[Eggo]

I took apart one of those relays recently...... looked fine on the outside, totally rotted and rusted on the inside.... of course I tested it first

How did you test it?

 

[Eggo]

What car and transmission? There is a switch that requires the auto transmission car to be in park or neutral before it will allow the engine to be cranked by the switch. Perhaps it is out of adjustment? And 1970 or later straight drives had a reverse lockout and perhaps a switch requiring the clutch pedal to be pushed.

It’s a ‘73 satellite, not sure on the transmission, I had a check and it’s in park, it was turning over before very recently and all I had my foot on was the brake

 

[eldubb440]

How did you test it?

one of those terminals should be hot with key in "crank" position (i forget witch one, smaller wire to the starter). it wasn't

ground is done through the neutral safety switch....... you can bypass it simply by grounding the G terminal.....make sure the car is not in gear

plenty of experts here

 

[davek]

It’s a ‘73 satellite, not sure on the transmission, I had a check and it’s in park, it was turning over before very recently and all I had my foot on was the brake

auto or manual? Did you change anything on the car?

 

[Eggo]

What car and transmission? There is a switch that requires the auto transmission car to be in park or neutral before it will allow the engine to be cranked by the switch. Perhaps it is out of adjustment? And 1970 or later straight drives had a reverse lockout and perhaps a switch requiring the clutch pedal to be pushed.

Hi, I tried replacing the battery terminals as they looked super dodgy and still wouldn’t turn over so I put it in Neutral instead of park which it’s been in the whole time and it will turn over when it’s in neutral! where/what is this switch that needs it to be in p or n as seems like it is out of adjustment like you thought

 

[Eggo]

one of those terminals should be hot with key in "crank" position (i forget witch one, smaller wire to the starter). it wasn't

ground is done through the neutral safety switch....... you can bypass it simply by grounding the G terminal.....make sure the car is not in gear

plenty of experts here

Will have a test of this, thank you!

 

[Eggo]

auto or manual? Did you change anything on the car?

It’s auto and haven’t really changed anything between it turning over and not turning over which is super confusing, have changed the coil as the other one was wired up back to front but initially it was trying to turn over after I did this and then stopped

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Hi, I tried replacing the battery terminals as they looked super dodgy and still wouldn’t turn over so I put it in Neutral instead of park which it’s been in the whole time and it will turn over when it’s in neutral! where/what is this switch that needs it to be in p or n as seems like it is out of adjustment like you thought

Here is the switch on Rockauto. It is located on the left side of the transmission. There may be wear internally where it works inside the transmission. HOWEVER, a lot of times it is just wear and "play" in the linkage. Try putting if firmly into park, and/ or jiggle the shifter while turning the key. That should give you the answer.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=42676&cc=1241435&jsn=385&jsn=385

 

[Eggo]

Here is the switch on Rockauto. It is located on the left side of the transmission. There may be wear internally where it works inside the transmission. HOWEVER, a lot of times it is just wear and "play" in the linkage. Try putting if firmly into park, and/ or jiggle the shifter while turning the key. That should give you the answer.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=42676&cc=1241435&jsn=385&jsn=385

thank you so much! will try this and fingers crossed it will work never heard of that switch before so was super confused why it wouldn’t turn over anymore but that makes a lot more sense now, thank you for explaining it