Topic: Hot start blues
in Forum: C3 Electrical

Moderator
.......Some replacement solenoids have a short post for this that requires a 'spacer', and some have a long post to begin with. Supposedly, the long post is for the 'high torque' starters, due to the longer field windings
You're probably on the right track now. Hope you get it fixed!!!




Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

You hold the compass up to the wiring harness. When there is power flow the electrical current creates a magnetic field which deflects the compass. No current no deflection. More current, more deflection. Yes it does work. An inductive amp gauge works better.
Keep in mind, it does not show broken wires, just lack of current flow. So no flow could mean you are before or after an open point in the circuit. That can include the circuit just being shut off. Other live circuits in the harness will make the compass respond as well.


Moderator

If you have "0" volts at the large cable on the starter, you have a bad pos. batt. cable from the batt. to the starter. It should be hot (12V+) at all times, regardless of key on or off. Check it again, and make sure! Make sure, also, that your neg. cable is good from the frame to the engine block, as a bad ground conn. would give you a "0" reading, also.
Once you get voltage at the starter,(main cable) you can check the fuse links, but you have to have something to check!! All positive voltage for the vehicle comes off of that connection, so if there's no voltage at the starter, everything will be dead.

Check the fuse-links by testing on each side if the link for 12V+. You should have voltage on each of them on the starter side, even if the link is blown. If it's good, then you'll have voltage on both sides; if not, then just on the starter side. Peel back a small piece of the insulation to get at the wire for testing. Most of the time, you can tell if the link is blown by simply pulling on it. If the wire stretches, the link is blown. I know how frustrating this is, but you have to get voltage to the starter first, before checking anything else.

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"