Why would the previous owner ground this?

[themechanic]

My car is an automatic. The neutral safety switch and backup light harness is missing. Here's a photo of my starter relay. Why would someone ground the starter relay like this?

View attachment 313343

 

[hunt2elk]

That terminal gets grounded through the neutral safety switch. With it left open the car won't start.

 

[Cranky]

I've done that with a couple of cars......stick in gear, floor it and hit the key. With a warm engine, it's instant tire smoke! I scared the hell out of my next door neighbor one day with my loud exhaust and the tires squalling. He saw and waved at me as I got in the car. It was parked on the street and kinda close to his driveway where he was washing his car. He was probably in his early 50's at the time and I was in my mid 20's and when I got back he 'told' me to please never do that again. He thought it blew up! :grin:

 

[Shorthorse]

Like Cranky said, it will start in gear so keep that in mind. It looks like someone has added some wires to the main stud and most appear to be fusible links. I'd sure want to know what they are for. The stock configuration is one wire to the battery and one to the ammeter.

 

[themechanic]

Like Cranky said, it will start in gear so keep that in mind. It looks like someone has added some wires to the main stud and most appear to be fusible links. I'd sure want to know what they are for. The stock configuration is one wire to the battery and one to the ammeter.

I did the Mad Electric ammeter bypass which adds the fusible links.

 

[Shorthorse]

I did the Mad Electric ammeter bypass which adds the fusible links.

Good move!