Purple Wire to Starter

[Imacarguytoo]

I got a thread going over in Engine section.... Does anyone have a Haynes manual? To tell me if that purple wire to the starter is the same from points dizzys to hei dizzys. The motor is turning over very slow and sometimes just trys to and doesnt. I have a fully charged battery in it. Im wondering if there is a problem with that purple wire not allowing a full 12 volts to the starter. Does the wire maybe have a resister in it or something? How easy is it to replace from the fusebox down to the starter?

[53lowdown]

The starter probably needs rebuilt or replaced.

The purple wire just activates the starter solenoid (a relay) which engages the bendix and sends full battery voltage (from your positive battery cable) directly to the starter. The voltage from the purple wire doesn't actually run the starter - just the solenoid.

I'd go to a parts store and have them load test your starter with it on the vehicle.

Another thing you could do is use a screwdriver to jump voltage to the starter post for the battery cable to the purple wire post and see if it cranks that way (make sure it's out of gear!). My bet is it'll sound the same as when you try to start it with the key, which would prove it is a bad starter.

[53lowdown]

Another thing could be the battery cables. Make sure they are in good contition, and that the connections are clean and tight. Clean the battery posts and cables and connect them tightly. Check to make sure the battery ground cable has a good connected to the block, and make sure the positive cable has a good connection on the starter.

[Bowtie001]

I agree - the purple wire stays the same. The yellow wire gets removed, but I don't think it's critical anyway.

[53lowdown]

Since you just put in the HEI, have you set the timing? If the timing is off it'll definately make it harder to crank.

[Imacarguytoo]

Originally Posted by 53lowdown

Since you just put in the HEI, have you set the timing? If the timing is off it'll definately make it harder to crank.

The HEI has been in for a few months. I cant time the motor. I set it at 8 degrees. The motor cranks hard and pings when i get in to the throttle. Thats the other issue i am dealing with......
Its a new motor with 3g miles. It ran great with the points in it. Father in law drive it for a while like that. I put the hei in and boom alsortsa problems.
I will check battery connections this afternoon.

[estig70]

i would recheck that timing with a light or get someone who can.

Eric

[Longhorn Man]

if it is a used HEI, take a look at the weights on the mechanical advance.
Unplug the power to the HEI, and see if it still cranks slow. If it cranks like it should, then your timing is the problem.

[Imacarguytoo]

WOOOHOOO It runs. The starting issue was a bad battery....and loose, bad connections at the battery. Im hopeing that the low voltage thing maybe finally caught up and wasnt sending enough power to the hei, which would cause it to ping. Im out the door to time it and drive it...hope for the best.

[krue]

Good luck.

[Imacarguytoo]

Ok I couldnt set the timing at 8 degrees. I just went down from there till it stopped pinging. I ended up at 2 degrees. When i have more time this week i will dive into it some more and find the problem. But till then it will get me back and forth to that great place we all call work!

Thanks for ALL the help guys!!