purple82

My car is an '82. The original ignition switch is finally starting to show signs of wearing out. Every once in a while, I turn to start and nothing happens. Turning off and then back to start turns the starter.

So I bought a replacement ignition switch and installed it. Everything works in acc and on, but when I turn to start, the starter motor doesn't spin. No clicking, no noise at all. The radio turns off as it should, but there is no sign that the starter is getting power.

Unfortunately, I took apart the older switch and it's not working right anymore, so I can't just go back to that one to troubleshoot. So I'm looking for some suggestions on how I can check to see if the new switch is faulty or if I somehow messed up my starting circuit. I disconnected the battery while changing the switch, I checked the two ignition switch fuses and checked continuity in the fusible links, both to the starter and the one ignition switch under the dash. Which wires do I need to connect to check that the starter is working?

LongDuck

Keep in mind that your ignition switch may not even be the problem here. The ignition circuit only powers the Starter Bendix, the Bendix (solenoid switch) is what carries the heavy current to the starter motor, allowing it to turn. This is to prevent the starter pinion from getting chewed up ramming itself into the flywheel while it's spinning.

What I would try, is jump a 12V Positive lead to the ignition post on the starter (with the trans in Neutral, obviously) and see if that gets your starter spinning. Also, the fusible links can 'look' okay and still not carry a load, so if you swap in a Known Good fusible link, you may get it to work.

I haven't seen a lot of posts with problems with the ignition switch as long as I've been here, so the problem could be just wiring related. In that regard, check your battery terminals, your negative ground(s), and your positive to the distribution block. Internal corrosion of the cables IS common, and the car will also benefit from a ground placed between negative on the battery and your A/C bracket mount or directly to the Alternator bracket mount to ground the engine electronics. HTH,

purple82

The factory wiring diagram appears to have the wrong wire color called out for the ignition to the starting circuit. It should be BR but is BY in the diagram. Once I figured that out, I found that shorting to the starter circuit didn't turn the starter, eliminating the ignition module as the problem. I got under the car and checked the fusible link at the Bendix, that had continuity too. I disconnected the connectors running to the starter, cleaned the contacts, and decided to try the BR wire again before messing with the ring terminals and the starter turned.

It was just some corroded contacts. The odd thing is that the manifestation coincided with the change of ignition module.