Starter issue on 455

I ran a wire directly from the battery to the ignition terminal on the starter. It starts every time, and voltage was 10.7. So I found the issue to be the purple wire from ignition to starter.

Now to figure out where to connect end of new wire under the dash. I plan on running a 10 gauge wire.

Any ideas where I need to connect the wire? Splice as close to connector as possible? And which connector? At neutral safety, or ignition switch?

Thank you.

Tom

 

Tom, when you say that it will turn over about one out of every ten times you try to crank, what happens those 9 out 10 times?

a. It makes that buzzing sound (but fails to rotate the engine) that a starter makes when the battery is low or there's a less-then-good connection somewhere.

b. It doesn't buzz, but it clicks, like when the battery is almost dead and only has enough power to get juice to the solenoid but not spin the starter.

c. other

(Edit to add: Never mind, you seem to have it figured out. Good luck!)

 

The 'other 9 times', it just clicks once.

I just ran a wire (10 gauge) from ignition terminal on starter to neutral safety, and it clicks once and has 9.5 volts. My electrical skills are less than novice level, so I may be overlooking something.

At this point, I believe my ignition switch isn't getting 12v? What powers that?

Thank you all for helping me so far.

Tom

 

Larry, according to the chart (clicks and headlights dim) it says 'check for short or ground in field coil or armature. What does that mean?

I plugged a 10 gauge wire in to neutral safety switch connector (the side that has power) and drops to 9.5 while cranking. So I unplugged it, which sends no power to starter, and cranked and see 12.1. So without a wire to starter I have 12, but while cranking with my 10 gauge 'jumper' wire connected I have 9.5. My knowledge is limited, but I think that's a lot of drop from a direct 10 gauge wire. I'm now thinking my new starter is bad?

 

I still think you have a bad contact in the solenoid. It looks like you have the Denso style starter. Remove the 3 screws on the squareish looking solenoid cap. Inside will be the solenoid contacts. Can you take a pic of what starter you have in there?

 

12 volts not connected is good. 9.5 connected when it goes click is good. This tells me you either have a bad connection at one or more of the battery connections at the battery or starter or ground or the solenoid contacts are bad. Post a pic of the starter you are using.

 

That is the Denso style starter. Take the 3 screws out of the silver cover and remove it and the plunger. There is a spring on the plunger shaft. Don't lose it. Take a pic of the 2 copper contacts inside and of the plunger copper contact. I have a feeling the contacts may be a bit cocked and not flat causing a bad contact. The contact that the battery wire goes on can be turned a bit if it is over tightened when putting the battery cable on. Take a peek and see if you see something there. I may be able to tell from a pic.

 

Larry - Yes, that's the starter I have.

Stellar - I will try that tonight.

After Larry's diagram and chart above, I was thinking the starter is the issue. I called Jegs tech line, and the guy I talked to seemed to think it is the starter as well. They are sending me a new one today. I will have it tomorrow.

Thank you guys very much! I appreciate your help.

Tom

 

Be careful you don't over tighten the post on the new starter. If the post moves so does the contact.

 

YAYYYY!!!

Fixed!

My new starter wasn't working. Jeg's sent me a new one. I installed it today and the car turned over around 20 times in a row (every time I tried).

Thank you guys very much for your help. I really appreciate your help!

At first I was pissed about the time wasted figuring this out, but I learned a lot about wiring during this.

Thank you!

Tom

 

And thanks to Larry for providing those charts--very helpful. I plan to refer to them when I have my next electrical problem. (Not "if," but "WHEN")