i have a 76 and it wont start. it has a brand new engine harness, but when i go to turn the key, it doesn't do anything. i have a brand new starter as well. all lights, etc. work and the starter is getting juice to it but i don't know what else it could be.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

 

You say you have juice to the starter, does it turn the engine over?
Spark to the plugs and fuel to the carb, that's what it takes to run.

 

i have nothing....the starter doesn't do anything.... i checked the wires to the starter and when the key is turned forward, i have a positive electrical signal but the actual starter doesnt do anything...

 

Does the solinoid "click" and can you hear the bendix gear engaging? I assume that a new solinoid came with the new starter. If not, the solinoid could be bad. Try jumping across the terminals.

 

no clicking or anything!!!!!!!!! i mean it's like the thing isn't even hooked up. i don't understand. i have a new starter and new solinoid and starter and new harness....the old starter wouldn't do anything either...thats why i got the new one.what do you mean by "jumping the terminals?"

 

Take a wire and tough across from the battery lead ( at the solinoid ) to the smaller wire connections on the solinoid. You just need to touch them to see if you get any reaction from the solinoid or starter. Since you have electricity at the starter/solinoid, you should get some type of reaction to jumping across the terminals at the solinoid.

Explain the circumstances as to when the original starter stopped working. I'll walk through this with you and see if we can get it figured out.

 

Sounds like the selonoid is passing voltage, but not letting enough AMPS through to run the starter. Could be corrosion on the inside of the unit, or on the outside terminals. Fortunately that's like a $10 part at the local parts store. If jumping the terminals doesn't kick the starter, I would look at the selonoid itself.

bill.

 

O. K., let's back up......
1. Be sure both battery terminals are clean and battery is fully charged
2. Both ends, of both battery cables should be clean and tight
3. Secondary wires and terminals at solinoid should be clean and tight

Assuming that the wiring is correctly connected, the solinoid/starter should operate.
Since the starter and solinoid are new, they should be o. k. although you can get a bad starter or solinoid from the parts store. It does happen.

The more I think about it,............. it sounds like the solinoid is the prob.
By jumping across the terminals, (from the battery cable terminal to one and then the other of the smaller wire terminals, do this only for a moment, that will be long enough to tell.) you should be able to get the starter to spin.
If so, it's the solinoid that is bad. If not it's the starter and maybe the solinoid too.

 

hey thanks...i appreciate the help.....unfortunately it won't be until this weekend until i can get to it[&:] but i will get back with you as soon as i try it.

 

have you tried neutral safety switch (auto trans) or clutch switch?????