Starter won't turn

[vpittman]

So I did the Madd electrical amp gauge bypass, but was still only getting 12 volts at idle. So today I replace the alternator and the started won't turn.. no click no nothing (it did start before I replaced the alternator, but that was last week)

So I shorted the terminals at the relay, the starter turns over...

So it must not be the starter... so what should I check next ? The battery shows 12 at the terminals...

Could it be the starter relay or is it more likely a bad battery cable ? Maybe the ignition switch ?

Thanks

[moparmaniac59]

If it turns over by shorting the relay terminals and worked fine before, I'd be looking at your start circuit. I am no electrical guru and have had gremlins before. I would suggest looking at what you modified for the amp meter bypass to find your problem. Do you still have the ballast resister in the circuit?


                                                Matt B.

[vpittman]

Yea, the ballast resistor is still there, but it has a MSD 6al ignition and once I get the charging straight I'll remove it...

The funny thing is it worked fine until I swapped the alternator...

[dodj]

I can't see how the alternator change would affect the start cct.
However if you want to check the starter solenoid, remove the yellow wire from the solenoid and with a jumper wire, connect battery positive to the connection you removed the yellow wire from. If the solenoid is good (and has a good ground) the starter will turn. If the solenoid is good, then maybe your bulkhead connector is not seated. You just removed them recently to do the conversion? Remove and reinstall the connector making sure the blade connectors are reasonably clean and not backed out of the plastic connector. Then see if it turns over.

[vpittman]

Yea, and I was up under the dash as well... I may have knocked something loose

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll revisit all the connections...

[Chryco Psycho]

check the plug at the bottom of the steering column

[GoodysGotaCuda]

First thing I would do is ground the terminal on the starter relay to knock the neutral safety switch out of the question. If it kicks over, then you are on to that circuit, if it doesn't then you know that isn't the problem. Check for "start" power at the starter relay, if it's there, you are looking at the relay. If not, work your way back to the bulkhead connection, connection at the column, then the ignition switch.

[vpittman]

Thanks everyone....

How do I check for "start" power at the starter relay ?

[Chryco Psycho]

the yellow wire will have 12v when the key is turned to the start position , the brown wire will ground when in park & neutral assuming it is an Auto

[HP2]

Maybe while pulling around different wires, the neuteral safety switch harness got disconnected from the trans. Eeither that or your shifter isnt fully engaged in park.

[wiging19]

Maybe while pulling around different wires, the neuteral safety switch harness got disconnected from the trans. Eeither that or your shifter isnt fully engaged in park.

My wiring to the neuteral safety switch accidently melted against the exhaust.  I replaced the battery, ballist and every possible part until I discovered that issue during a transmission replacement.  Three years of intermitent starting problems solved in one afternoon.

[vpittman]

So I was able to look at it some today... All the interior lights work, headlights, etc. all good (even some that didn't use to work)

I 'ground the terminal on the starter relay to knock the neutral safety switch out' and it still didn't turn... checked the start power, it was only 0.12 v. I rechecked everything... could this just be dirty bulkhead connectors ?

Also, not sure if it matters, but I'm not certain that the msd 6a is hooked up correctly. Everything looks ok except the small red wire goes into the dash and is tied to ign 1 (j2a-12dbl) and that's all. I've read elsewhere it should be tied to ign 2 as well. But the ballast resistor is still in place, so I'm guessing that's how it gets to that.

[Chryco Psycho]

yes the small red wire needs to be connected to both the blue run circuit & the brown start circuit
 if the yellow start circuit is only getting .1V it cold be a bad connection at the bulkhead or at the bottom of the column , you need to test the voltage at both of these places

[vpittman]

Would not having the brown wire connected to the msd cause the starter to not turn ?

In any case is there a diagram of how it should be hooked up (I've looked and can't find one and the msd instructions are too general) including how the ballast resistor fits it to all of this (I'm fine with getting rid of it) ?

Thanks again for all the help

[dodj]

Would not having the brown wire connected to the msd cause the starter to not turn ?

Nope. It would cause the ignition not to spark when attempting to start. The brown wire enables the MSD when cranking and the blue wire enables the MSD when running.
Not turning over is a different circuit. To get rid of the ballast resistor just unplug it and tie the brown and blue wires from it to the small red msd wire together and you are done.

if the yellow start circuit is only getting .1V it cold be a bad connection at the bulkhead or at the bottom of the column , you need to test the voltage at both of these places

Bad connections at the places chryco mentioned will cause it not to turn over though.