Wires hot when off
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Wires hot when off
I have a 72 with an original 360. I don't know much about wiring, so I need some guidance. My truck had been sitting for about five days without running because I was replacing a valve cover gasket. When I got done with that, I also replaced the positive battery cable and hooked it up right. (I was too lazy to grab a wrench, so to reach my ratchet on the part of the red wire that runs to the solenoid I had to unbolt the little box directly in front of the solenoid. I don't know what that is but I bolted it back on like it was) I didn't start the truck. I came back in the evening and the ignition coil had sprayed its gunk EVERYWHERE and it was still super hot and hissing. It built up power and got hot and busted. I got another coil off of a parts truck and was able to start it fine, but it would not turn off. I turned it off by disconnecting the red wire to the coil. So apparently something happened that makes the wire to the coil hot when it is off, and the key wont kill it like it should. This is my first truck, and am still learning a lot everyday. need some help, thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
The little box in front of the coil is the horn relay, it shouldn't have any effect on the ignition. There is a start bypass on the solenoid that puts power directly to the coil while cranking- Somehow that wire probably got connected to the battery terminal on the coil.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
It sounds to me like you have the two clip-on wires reversed at the starter relay.
Get out your volt meter and take a voltage reading between ground and the wire you disconnected from the coil. Make sure the key switch is in the "Off" position (want to check this with the engine not running). If you see +DC (somewhere between +12VDC and +15VDC), you've got the wires switched at the relay.
If it doesn't show a voltage, then it's some other problem.
Let us know what you find.
Get out your volt meter and take a voltage reading between ground and the wire you disconnected from the coil. Make sure the key switch is in the "Off" position (want to check this with the engine not running). If you see +DC (somewhere between +12VDC and +15VDC), you've got the wires switched at the relay.
If it doesn't show a voltage, then it's some other problem.
Let us know what you find.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
I'm inclined to agreethat it's sticking, but I'd like to know whether it's because of an electrical problem or a mechanical problem.
If it's an electrical problem, the relay may not need replacement.
If it's an electrical problem, the relay may not need replacement.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
The starter relay is brand new, and I have two others that will work. I will go home and investigate further and keep you posted. Somebody also told me it could be a bad ignition switch... Thanks a lot for the help!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 5
From: San Francisco East Bay
Possibly a bad ignition switch, but check for 12 volts on that wire first.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Upon further review one of the push on wires on the relay (the positive one) was not slid on all the way. I pushed it on and put the coil on and the truck started and turned off with the key. No sparks when I undid the coil either. If i had a voltmeter or knew where my dads was I would have done that too 
). So I put it back on and left it there and so far, no explosions yet! (but I could not recreate the sparks by messing around with the relay wire, so I hope that solved it...) Thanks again!
). So I put it back on and left it there and so far, no explosions yet! (but I could not recreate the sparks by messing around with the relay wire, so I hope that solved it...) Thanks again!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
