Solenoid/ignition problem
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
Solenoid/ignition problem
Ok, heres the scoop.
One day, a few weeks ago, I get in my truck and turn the key. it clicks then nothing. Try again and nothing, no click either.
I clean the battery terminals and posts. I clean all the wires to the solenoid and clean the starter wire. Still nothing. Put in another battery and it started.
Then happend again a few days later. Its been very sparadic.
I put a new motor in my truck last saturday along with a new starter (my headers were touching the cable so i had to switch to one with the wire in the middle) And it does it every time usually. then sometimes it works.
So i make sure i have a screwdriver handy and i touch the positive lead from the battery to the solenoid to the little plug on the solenoid beside it. (1978 half-ton) THat solves the problem.
I also switched the key plug with another and it didnt do anything.
This means my solenoid is toast?? Or ??
Thanks for any feedback.
One day, a few weeks ago, I get in my truck and turn the key. it clicks then nothing. Try again and nothing, no click either.
I clean the battery terminals and posts. I clean all the wires to the solenoid and clean the starter wire. Still nothing. Put in another battery and it started.
Then happend again a few days later. Its been very sparadic.
I put a new motor in my truck last saturday along with a new starter (my headers were touching the cable so i had to switch to one with the wire in the middle) And it does it every time usually. then sometimes it works.
So i make sure i have a screwdriver handy and i touch the positive lead from the battery to the solenoid to the little plug on the solenoid beside it. (1978 half-ton) THat solves the problem.
I also switched the key plug with another and it didnt do anything.
This means my solenoid is toast?? Or ??
Thanks for any feedback.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 179
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From: Central Virginia
Sorry to disagree with you BeastyBronco, but the starter relay is operated by 12V being applied to the "S" terminal not the "I" terminal. If I correctly understand Longview1's description of the problem, the relay operates and the engine cranks when he uses a screwdriver to apply battery voltage to the "S" terminal. To me that means the starter relay is OK and the problem is probably the ingition switch itself or the wire from the ingition switch to the starter relay. Does that sound reasonable?
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
Thats what i do, on my solenoid there is 4 connections.
The started wire on one side, the positve batt cable on the other side and two plugs in the middle. I touch the pos batt side to the one little plug on the front. And it starts.
Im wondering what is not functioning properly?
The two plugs on the front, i dont know where they go, or what they are,
The started wire on one side, the positve batt cable on the other side and two plugs in the middle. I touch the pos batt side to the one little plug on the front. And it starts.
Im wondering what is not functioning properly?
The two plugs on the front, i dont know where they go, or what they are,
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 351
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From: Arkansas
one is I (ignition) terminal and one is S (start) terminal
i thought the I terminal was where the ignition wire connects and the ignition switch(in the dash) sends electricity to that terminal to activate the solenoid just like you do when u send power directly to that terminal from the battery
im pretty sure atleast that i have my ignition wire going to the I terminal but maybe i dont i'll check when i get home
so anyways if ur not getting power through that ignition wire it is more than likely ur ignition switch ... there is a procedure in the hayes repair manual for testing it or u can probably take it to a auto parts store (i have never tried to take one so they might not)
i thought the I terminal was where the ignition wire connects and the ignition switch(in the dash) sends electricity to that terminal to activate the solenoid just like you do when u send power directly to that terminal from the battery
im pretty sure atleast that i have my ignition wire going to the I terminal but maybe i dont i'll check when i get home
so anyways if ur not getting power through that ignition wire it is more than likely ur ignition switch ... there is a procedure in the hayes repair manual for testing it or u can probably take it to a auto parts store (i have never tried to take one so they might not)
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 179
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From: Central Virginia
As you look at the starter relay, the large terminal on the left goes to the battery, the large terminal on the right goes to the starter. The small teminal on the left is the "S" terminal. The ingition switch applies 12V to the "S" terminal when you turn the ingition switch to "start". That 12V from the ingition switch is what opperates the starter relay.
The small terminal on the right is the "I" terminal. The "I" terminal supplies 12V to the ingition system while the engine is being cranked. In early ingition systems the 12V from the "I" terminal is applied directly to the coil resulting in hotter spark while the engine is being cranked. On latter ingition systems, the 12V from the "I" terminal is applied to the intion module which signals the ingition module to retard the timing of the spark. In both cases, the 12V from the "I" terminal helps the engine start and is only used while the engine is being cranked. Franklin2 (David F) has published a very good diagram of the starter circuit in earlier threads on the forum. I would suggest that you search the forum and refer to that diagram. It may be very helpful as you trouble shoot your problem.
Good Luck
The small terminal on the right is the "I" terminal. The "I" terminal supplies 12V to the ingition system while the engine is being cranked. In early ingition systems the 12V from the "I" terminal is applied directly to the coil resulting in hotter spark while the engine is being cranked. On latter ingition systems, the 12V from the "I" terminal is applied to the intion module which signals the ingition module to retard the timing of the spark. In both cases, the 12V from the "I" terminal helps the engine start and is only used while the engine is being cranked. Franklin2 (David F) has published a very good diagram of the starter circuit in earlier threads on the forum. I would suggest that you search the forum and refer to that diagram. It may be very helpful as you trouble shoot your problem.
Good Luck
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Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
Cool man,
thank you I appreciate it.
I didnt know what the small plugs were for.
Ill do a search here.
thank you I appreciate it.
I didnt know what the small plugs were for.
Ill do a search here.
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