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Turn the key and nothing happens..... HELP

74Runneer

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I'm trying to figure out my ignition. The ignition turned over but there was no spark so I looked for loose wire. I connected these two random wires that look that they might go together and tried turning over and it didn't work. This time it didn't even turn over or click or anything. I got a new ignition and so I just thought oh when I put this in it will be fine. I put the new ignition in and it still doesn't do anything. I check the fuses under the dash and the one connected to the battery and both were fine. Is there another fuse that goes to the starter or something? Did I fry the starter or something? The battery reads 12.2v. Any ideas? Im stuck...
 
Check fusible link at the bulkhead connector. Then the next thing I would check would be the starter relay. Use a light or meter to trace where you have power and where you don't. And trace those two random wires you connected to see if they do in fact belong together.
 
my GTX would die and no power to anything it was on and off thing it was the amp meter going up
 
Connecting two random wires that look like they may go together is the worse thing you can do. What brian says is right. Get yourself a multimeter & a wiring diagram. Trace the ignition circuit. That's how you discover what the culprit is.
 
Hooking up random wires just because they look like they might go together is very dangerous and will cause catastrophic results. I would recommend that you get a wiring diagram appropriate for your vehicle and start there.

OOOPS ... looks like WileRobby and I were typing at the same time.
 
Get a test light and see where you have power or dont. Start at the battery, make sure the ground cable is making a good ground. Check the positive cable too, from there make sure you have power at the starter. Check for power at the starter relay on the firewall.
 
Can you start the car from the starter relay by shorting the two big studs on it? Or, ground the other wire (black or brown) that's under the yellow wire (ignition key) to the battery and see if the car starts. If so, the neutral safety switch on the tranny could be bad. To test it, remove the connector from the neutral safety switch on the tranny, and use a continuity tester between the tranny and middle pin (ground) on the neutral safety switch and you should have continuity if the switch is good (means the ground is good). If not, then the relay's not being grounded properly when starting the car, hence the reason the car could be started at the relay by grounding the relay to the battery. (Think I explained everything properly).
 
Check fusible link at the bulkhead connector. Then the next thing I would check would be the starter relay. Use a light or meter to trace where you have power and where you don't. And trace those two random wires you connected to see if they do in fact belong together.
X2
 
Okay i looked at the fusible link and all the lights in my car work (gaug es, headlights etc) so I assume the fusible link is good. Yeah i know it was dumb to connect those wires. Im not very experienced with the starter relay but Ill do anything to get it back on the road. Im not really even sure where the relay is. Is it on the firewall? I dont have a test light but i do have a multimeter if that helps?

- - - Updated - - -

Can you start the car from the starter relay by shorting the two big studs on it? Or, ground the other wire (black or brown) that's under the yellow wire (ignition key) to the battery and see if the car starts. If so, the neutral safety switch on the tranny could be bad. To test it, remove the connector from the neutral safety switch on the tranny, and use a continuity tester between the tranny and middle pin (ground) on the neutral safety switch and you should have continuity if the switch is good (means the ground is good). If not, then the relay's not being grounded properly when starting the car, hence the reason the car could be started at the relay by grounding the relay to the battery. (Think I explained everything properly).

That kinda went over my head. :eusa_think: Could you go over how to check the starter relay in simple terms so an 18 year old can understand? Sorry
 
Ok, attached is a picture of the starter relay for an automatic car (assumes your's is). It should be mounted on the firewall near the brake booster (or driver side of firewall). There will be two big cables going to the studs on the right side from the battery and starter. Using a screw driver or anything metal, bridge the two connections and the car should start. Caution, sparks will fly so be prepared, but the car should start. Hold the bridge on the relay until the car starts. It will turn over and over until enough gas is in there and it starts. If you have a remote starting trigger you can hook the alligator clips to these two studs and start the car with the trigger. If this works, you know the relay is good.

Next thing to do is hook up a long wire with alligator clips to the bottom tab on the left side (relay ground) and connect other clip to the negative side of battery. Then try starting the car. If it starts, then most likely the neutral safety switch is bad down at the tranny.

starterrelaypn2444442[1].jpg



Now down to the transmission. On the driver side of the tranny, above the pan rail, perhaps in the middle of the tranny case will be the below. It will have a corresponding 3 wire connector on it. Pull the connector off and you will see the 3 pins. The middle pin is the ground. To test the ground, use your multimeter on the continuity function and touch one probe to the middle pin and the other probe to the tranny case. It should beep if its grounded properly. If not, there's the problem and time for a new neutral safety switch. (of course when jacking up the car to get to the neutral safety switch, please use safety common sense and jack stands.

312-P5007747[1].jpg


Oh, and get a test light, its invaluable with these old cars!!

Oh, another thing. If the neutral safety switch is bad and you need a new one, BEFORE installing the new one, remember to drain the transmission fluid or you'll get a bath when you take out the safety switch (ask me how I know). Hopefully your tranny pan has a drain plug!
 
Okay i hooked my remote starter to the relay and it turned over! I didnt start it but I didnt try. So that means the relay is good. Now what do I test? Do you still want me to hook a alligator clip wire to the relay from the negative on the battery? Do i still use the remote starter for this?

Im not sure I have a continuity function on my multimeter. I just bought this cheap one http://www.ebay.com/itm/330946125814?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I can use my friends light but ill look into getting one.
 
Okay i hooked my remote starter to the relay and it turned over! I didnt start it but I didnt try. So that means the relay is good. Now what do I test? Do you still want me to hook a alligator clip wire to the relay from the negative on the battery? Do i still use the remote starter for this?

Im not sure I have a continuity function on my multimeter. I just bought this cheap one http://www.ebay.com/itm/330946125814?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I can use my friends light but ill look into getting one.
Continuity is the OHM setting... 0 ohms = continuity. Or a very low ohm reading. The lower the better.
 
Yes, you still need to test whether the relay is being grounded. Hook up the wire from that tab on the relay to the negative side of battery and start the car with the key.

Okay i hooked my remote starter to the relay and it turned over! I didnt start it but I didnt try. So that means the relay is good. Now what do I test? Do you still want me to hook a alligator clip wire to the relay from the negative on the battery? Do i still use the remote starter for this?

Im not sure I have a continuity function on my multimeter. I just bought this cheap one http://www.ebay.com/itm/330946125814?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I can use my friends light but ill look into getting one.
 
Okay i just took some wire that i had laying around either 16-18 gauge hooked it up to the bottom left which would be the top left in your picture, then hooked the other end to the battery and turned the key and....... nothing. i didnt use alligator clips, i just wraped the striped wire around the terminals so that should work right? What does this tell me?
 
how is your starter relay mounted on the firewall? with the metal mounting tab on the bottom (like in the picture)? You need to hook the jumper wire to the tab that is aligned horizontally, not the angled one. Is this what you did?
 
The angled tab should have a yellow wire on it which is the ignition key circuit(?). with a test light connected to it, it'll light up when turning the key to start the car.

Ohhhh, i did the wrong one. Ill test the other one now.
 
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