Help needed for Batvette 71

[fatherlarry]

Originally sent as a private message to FatherLarry on 4/21/02 by Batvette 71
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Ignition Switch. Help!! :banghead: I think my ignition switch is bad. I have a 1971 corvette The car starts , runs fine (better than fine Great) but when I turn the key to the off position it still runs great like the key was never turned off? I took the ignition switch off from steering column up under the dash near the brake pedal and now there is two plugs a white one and a brown one but a orange and brown wire connector fell off Does any body know where it goes? Could someone could point me in the right direction
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Batvette 71, let Mike know if it's a automatic or standard and if you're using original GM parts or aftermarket.

[Batvette71]

The ignition switch was a Gm I think the orange and brown wire came out of the brown plug closest to the dash. The spade on it is wider than the rest of them. I bought a new switch today
Thank Guys

[MKOTZE]

Hello Batvette 71, This is difficult to answer as it would be easier if I could see it. However, unlike the newer vehicles the older ones do not identify the individual cavities of the plug. The switch itself should have tiny numbers by the terminals. If you can read the numbers and letters it may identify a battery connection, ignition connection, start connection, or accessory connection. The orange wire is usually a battery positive input to the switch. The brown wire is usually an ignition output from the switch. I would look at the plastic connector to see if there are signs that a terminal was connected there. Unfortunately, there may be unused empty cavities and therefore that connector may not have been used. Hopefully by looking at the connector marks you can determine which one was used. The switch should have three rows of terminals the orange wire should be on the lower row and the brown wire should be on the upper row. If the terminal was in use there are two possible reasons why it fell out. First the terminal has a retaining tang that help to hold it in place this would need to be spread open a little more with a small screwdriver. It could Have been due to the terminal overheating and then melting the plug enough to loosen the plug. Hope this helps. MKOTZE

[Batvette71]

Thanks MKOTZ
I put the newswitch in and it works fine, but I guess that wasn"t the problem after all. The original problem was that the car wouldn"t shut off. Now I thinking it has something to do with the starter. Maybe something in the solenoid, a short between the B terminal and the R terminal that keeps the car running:banghead: Friday I'll be out there tracking down the problem one way or another
Thanks again
Batvette71

[MKOTZE]

Originally posted by Batvette71
Thanks MKOTZ
I put the newswitch in and it works fine, but I guess that wasn"t the problem after all. The original problem was that the car wouldn"t shut off. Now I thinking it has something to do with the starter. Maybe something in the solenoid, a short between the B terminal and the R terminal that keeps the car running:banghead: Friday I'll be out there tracking down the problem one way or another
Thanks again
Batvette71 Hello BatVette71, Maybe I can help but I need you to answer a few questions first. If the car won't shut off How are you turning the car off at this moment? Does the car have the original type ignition system? Has the alternator been replaced? Does your car have air conditioning? What other symptoms are you experiencing that would lead you to believe it is the starter solenoid? Let me Know. :chevy: MKOTZE

[Batvette71]

To shut the car off once its started I lift the clutch and stall it. The car has air conditioning Last year after a long ride on a hot day I would have this problem (thought I needed a heat shield on the starter) and would hear a crackling sound from the starter but after it cooled down the problem was gone. This year I changed the points to a magnetic pick-up and installed a Mallory multi spark box.and painted much of the engine compartment. So far I ruled out the Mallory box I disconnected it and still have the problem. Today I was going to check the starter for a short ( the crackling sound from last year) and if there is any over spray on the terminals from the aluminun paint when I painted the starter.I seem to have a constant flow of juice to the key . If I turn the key to the run position the parking brake light will come on when the ket is turned to the off position the brake light is still on . It shows a constant flow of juice to the switch. so I use a quick disconnect on the battery terminal to stop the flow then connect it again and everything is fine untill I turn the key to the run postion again I do hear a relay shut off when I disconnect the battery, it seems to be under the dash on the passanger side, there is two the one closest to the dash is the one making the noise What is it?
Batvette71

[MKOTZE]

Hello BatVette71, There are a few things you need to try. At the starter solenoid you need to disconnect the wire going to the R terminal of the solenoid and leave it disconnected. Since you changed the ignition system you no longer need this. The next thing you should do is with the vehicle running disconnect the two wire plug at the back of the alternator. Then try to shut the car off. If the car doesn't shut off then disconnect the two wire plug at the ac compressor. If the car continues to run at this point then you will need to disconnect the relay under the dash that was making noise. Try this and let me know. :chevy: MKOTZE

[Batvette71]

MKOTZ
Yesterday I checked the starter everything was fine. I took the relay under the dash off is was a ignition fuse? put it back on the clicking stoped. Looked under the hood for the horn/key buzzer relay since the key buzzer stopped working about the same time the problem started it looked good but still no key buzzer. :confused: then started the car it ran fine and shut off fine. I did this about 10 times Then the old problem started again twice Tried to start the car and it was fine again on and off. It's funny last night I thought maybe it was the neutral safty switch is not disengagging and today I see a post about the same thing. Is it possible that the safty switch would cause this? Today I'm going to try it again and see what happens when I try to start it ( keeping my fingers crossed ) now I know why there are cross flages as an emblen:lol:
Thanks for all your help I'll let you know the out come
Batvette71

[fatherlarry]

Originally posted by Batvette71
MKOTZ
( keeping my fingers crossed ) now I know why there are cross flages as an emblen:lol:
Thanks for all your help I'll let you know the out come
Batvette71

:rolllaugh :lol: That's really funny, never thought of it!

[MKOTZE]

Good Morning BatVette71, No the nuetral safety switch is not the source of your problem. If you try disconnecting everything on the post from last night it will pinpoint the area of the problem. The problem sounds like an electrical back feed into the ignition circuit. Please check all of the suggested items thoroughly and let me know. Good Luck:chevy: MKOTZE

[Batvette71]

Hey MKOTZ
Today the car is ok. Don't know why but its ok.
When the problem started I did pull the plug on the alternator and the car stopped. (but didn't know about disconnecting the run wire on the starter first). I'm not going to look for the problem untill it happens again. Like the saying goes " if it ain't broke Don't fix it!"
But I promise when it does happen again (hope it don't) I will try your last post to pin point the problem:bowdown:
Again thanks for your time and concern to a fellow vette owner
Thats what makes vette owners special the BROTHERHOOD!
Batvette71:cheers: