New engine And new engine bay harness woes

Discussion in 'Sparky's corner' started by stump puller455, Oct 6, 2020.

  1. stump puller455

    stump puller455 1970 GS 455

    I’m hoping somebody could help me....Installed a new new lectric Limited engine bay harness .. Everything fit well connectors etc and all.... I put the key in the start position no power on the pink + wire on the positive side of the coil I check all connections can’t find any problem ..While the engine is cranking over the pink positive wire on the coil lights my test light but only while the engine is cranking . So I take an alligator clip and a piece of wire and I go from the positive side of the battery to the positive side of the coil when I touch the coil it arks like a dead short.. I take the test light hook it to the positive side of the battery I touch the pink wire on the positive side of the coil the test light lights up this tells me The pink wire somewhere has a dead short ... uuggg I have some bad luck... I remove the pink wire from the positive side of the coil leave it in the air I connect my jumper wire from the positive side of the battery to the positive side of the coil hit the key engine fires right up. I’m gonna post some photos of the coil & the starter wiring.. starter works perfect Very nice mini Starter any ideas on which way to go
     

    Attached Files:

    69GS430/TKX likes this.
  2. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    Disconnect the yellow wire from the starter. Mini starters do not have the provisions for power while cranking. Your voltage from the key on is trying to run the starter. You will have to rig up a relay to have voltage while cranking. The pink wire will not have power while cranking so you will have to jump from the battery to the coil to get it to start. Then disconnect it and it should stay running. The mini starters cause problems.
     
    sailbrd and stump puller455 like this.
  3. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Disconnect the yellow wire from the starter main power lug... This wire was used for cars with points.. it bypassed the resistor wire that is attached in line, in front of the pink wire... the yellow wire is attached to the pink wire, on the coil side of the resistor... it was used to provide a hot spark during a warm restart.

    Tape the end up on that yellow wire, and wire tie it to the harness..

    Now, disconnect the pink wire at the coil

    Turn the key on.. check that it lights your test light. If it does, crank the engine, the test light should remain lit. The coil circuit will remain hot during cranking.

    If it does, you good to go.. you have electronic ignition now, so no worries about the resistor.

    lf the pink wire does not have key on power in the on position, then check the fuse in the box, right next to the "ING" terminal.

    JW
     
  4. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Several manufactures advises to use a diode when this happens for points distributors.

    "With the diode in-line with the yellow wire you'll feed full 12v to coil while cranking. Once running the diode will block voltage from going from the coil to the solenoid."

    Check you directions that came with the starter.
     
    69GS430/TKX likes this.
  5. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    The pink wire does not have power while cranking unless you use the diode or a relay.
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Dave,
    Most circuits go dead when cranking, but not that one. The Pink wire should be hot during crank and run.
     
    69GS430/TKX likes this.
  7. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    Larry

    I have had 2 cars that the pink wire did not have power while cranking, and the yellow wire not connected.
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That's strange. My coil positive wire now turns my MSD box on. I do not have a yellow bypass wire. If it didn't have power when cranking, my car should not start, but it does, instantly.
     
  9. stump puller455

    stump puller455 1970 GS 455

    Thanks to all for the replies.. Problem solved V8 Buick Members are the best
     
    69GS430/TKX likes this.
  10. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

  11. stump puller455

    stump puller455 1970 GS 455

    I did what was suggested.. I removed the yellow wire from the starter Solenoid lug . and it Solved the problem .. i was really thinking it was a much bigger problem.. thanks again to all who took the time to help !!
     
    BuickV8Mike likes this.
  12. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Jim,

    I have a couple follow up questions as I'm about to tackle a very similar issue this weekend.

    First off - is the OP running an electronic ignition? I installed the same LL harness a couple months ago and also recently installed a Dave Ray ignition - which I'm told requires a full and consistent 12V.

    Tomorrow I'm either opening up the harness to bypass the resistor wire or running a separate wire from the fuse box to the coil. Should I decide to run the separate wire, (from the fuse box) does that negate the pink wire going to the coil altogether, as well as the yellow wire to the starter?

    Thanks!
     
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Brett,
    Looking at the OP's pictures, that looks like a Mallory Unilite distributor harness to me. The Unilite is OK with the stock resistance wire. If you installed the LL harness, then unplug the Harness connector at the firewall. Unclip the resistance wire from the front half of the plug. Remove the entire wire including the yellow wire to the starter. Then use a replacement barb and run a 12 gauge wire for the Dave Ray distributor.

    Packard56.jpg

    If you compress the barb of the above clip, the entire wire and clip will pull out from the harness. Then use a replacement clip and wire. It will click into the same spot. That way, everything you do is reversible.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2020
    Brett Slater likes this.
  14. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    If the OP doesn't have or know where to get the harness plug pin you illustrated, I have a bunch of them left over from when I put the Dave Ray distributor in my '71 GS. Be glad to mail him a couple.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  15. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  16. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    Brett Slater likes this.
  17. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Thumbs up.:)
     
  18. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    Wouldn't a wire from the fuse box to the coil achieve the same thing?
     
  19. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Possibly, but it would have to be hot in crank and run. The way I described is the right way to do it.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.

Share This Page