No Power To Starter

[davery]

Question for all you 83-85 owners. I removed my wood trim pieces to refinish and am having an issue after reinstalling. It seems the starter is not getting any power, but I can hear the fuel pump. I seem to remember reading something about a connection in the upper center console that may cause this, but can't remember anything else. I do have a yellow/black and brown female spade connector location unaccounted for. After looking over the diagrams I believe it goes to the heater fan (C22), but that shouldn't cause the starter to not get power. Ideas before I start taking things back apart?

[spider2081]

It seems the starter is not getting any power,

The battery + cable should go direct to the starter solenoid battery terminal.
Do you mean when you turn the key to "start" position the starter does not make any noise and engine does not turn over?

[davery]

Yes, when I turn the key I can hear the fuel pump, but nothing from the starter. I assume I need to get something so I can check the voltage at the ignition and starter.

[spider2081]

I assume I need to get something so I can check the voltage at the ignition and starter.

Yes a voltmeter or a test light will work.

At the ignition switch connector the brown wire brings power to the ignition switch from the battery. The red wire brings power from the "start" position of the switch to the starter.

The red wire at the starter solenoid s a "push on" spade type connector

In the area of the driverside engine mount are 2 single bullet connections. One has heavy brown wires the other has red wires. These connections are often over looked when troubleshoots your type of issues. Each needs to be clean and tight. They are the same red and brown wires that are in the ignition switch connectors.

[davery]

I assume I need to get something so I can check the voltage at the ignition and starter.

Yes a voltmeter or a test light will work.

At the ignition switch connector the brown wire brings power to the ignition switch from the battery. The red wire brings power from the "start" position of the switch to the starter.

The red wire at the starter solenoid s a "push on" spade type connector

In the area of the driverside engine mount are 2 single bullet connections. One has heavy brown wires the other has red wires. These connections are often over looked when troubleshoots your type of issues. Each needs to be clean and tight. They are the same red and brown wires that are in the ignition switch connectors.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully tomorrow I can find a few minutes to check it out. So both the brown and red wires go from the ignition to the starter?

[spider2081]

So both the brown and red wires go from the ignition to the starter?

Yes, the brown wire brings battery (hot all the time) voltage to the ignition switch and when the ignition switch is in the "start" position the brow wire's voltage is switched to the red wire. The red wire then powers the starters solenoid to engage and spin the starter.

[RRoller123]

There are intermediary connectors along the way that cause havoc and great loss of merriment.

C31 in particular, just downstream of the Ign Switch. Get rid of this puppy, and make the connections directly. It is only there for factory assembly convenience, and causes the dreaded "click of death", much discussed on these pages. I removed the white C31 housing, which had warped over time and was causing connection problems, cleaned up and tightened the Fastons, and reconnected them directly and shrink wrapped them individually. No issues since.





C17 is unnecessary unless one has the power windows. (not sure if it is even there unless power windows installed? Hmmm)

C6 and C7 are an absolute PITA, located Driver's side, under the intake manifold, just forward of the starter. They can be made better or eliminated and made direct. They cause the "click" as well.

[davery]

I found the issue. It seems the ignition wire spade plug at the starter was corroded. As I was putting the dash back together, now the hazard light is not working. Can anyone tell me the flasher is located? It also seems, according to my diagram, there is a connection between the hazard light and acc socket. Don't think I have ever seen the acc socket, where is it located?

[RRoller123]

The flasher is usually behind the center console, up high, driver's side. Can maybe get at it without pulling the console... It is near the steering column u-joint, i.e. at approx that height.

[davery]

Thanks. Would a defective flasher stop the hazard lights from flashing or would they not work at all? Right now I have nothing from the hazard lights. It looks like the hazard light gets power through the acc socket and is on fuse 9. It also looks like it grounds at G3, is that the grounding pod behind the ignition?

[spider2081]

Speaking about a 1985 Spider: I believe the flasher is located behind and above the ignition switch. It on the passenger side of the pedal assembly. The single flasher is used for both the turn signal lights and the hazard lights. The hazard light switch switches power between "hot in start and run" power for the turn signals and "hot all the time" for the hazards. I believe fuse 9 powers the flasher for Hazards operation and fuse 11 powers the flasher for the turn signals.

[davery]

All fuses are good and it appears neither the hazard or turn signals are working. Does this mean it is the flasher? Can I test the flasher? I pulled the flasher and assume I can't go to my local Autozone for a replacement.

[davery]

All fuses are good and it appears neither the hazard or turn signals are working. I tried jumping the flasher connector, but no luck. It appears the flasher is not the issue. Electrical is not my strong suit. In looking at the wiring diagram, is the flasher the only thing in common between the turn signals and hazards? If the hazard switch was not getting power would the turn signals not work or vice versa?