i have just re-wired my dash and engine harness with new ones. i cant start the car. everything else works all lights, including dash, fully charged battery, when i turn the key nothing happens, so sound or clicks. does the dash have to be screwed in to start the car -to ground? how does the IGN switch ground? and how does the dash and engine harness ground? i think that is the problem here. any suggestions. i modernized by dash by putting in covans classic gauges, all gauges have a ground wire, and they are grounded, its just the IGN switch i cant figure out.

thanks
frank

sorry i have a 1966 chevelle

I assume automatic. Did you plug in the NSS connector?

i have a manual trans - tremec 5 speed. is that the neutral saftey switch? excuse the ignorance but what is that? my column harness is plugged in. i have not plugged in every harnes from my dash yet, such as heater, reverse light, speedo, door jam lights, cigarette lighter, wipers. i think that about it, iam pressed for time i must move my car to another garage by dec 1st, i hoped to get it started with lights so i can move it.

Well, yours is a manual trans but where did you get the replacement harness? Does it have a NSS connector on it? Located near the steering column. Just guessing on why the starter acts dead after the dash wire changes.

i dont know what that harness looks like. i bought a new dash, and engine harness from painless and joined this the the harness that came with covans dash and gauges insert - i dont think covans dash is the problem. i do have 1 or 2 harness near the column from the harness that i dont know what they are for. i assume you think this is not a ground problem?
thanks alot john,

frank

Look at your "loose" harness connectors. If you see a couple of 14awg purple wires, that's the connector for the NSS. If its there, you can just plug in a switch or jumper. I'm assuming that there is a purple wire to your starter solenoid? Be sure its on the correct terminal.

i think there is a purple wire connector just hanging there! i will look friday, my wires to my solenoid are correct. a purple wrie does go my starter.

I am having a similar problem after doing some work under the dash. When I turn the key, all lights dim and stay dim until I disconnenct the positive cable on the battery--then reconnect and lights work as normal--wondered if you had same symptoms

my lights are full power, no dimming, full 12V at the battery, dash lights come on and gauges move when i turn the key, just the IGn switch is complety silent - sounds like its not connected, if the starter was dead would it make a clicking sound? i think dimming is a ground or draining problem.

If the dash lights come on, there is power to the ignition switch. The purple wire, from the ignition switch is the wire that powers the starter. See if you can measure that wire (key turn to run) or follow it and see where it goes.

You guys just cured a major headache for me....manual transmission, covans dash and guages, all new harnesses, and rebuilt motor just installed...turn key nothing...lights work and do not dim....have traced every connection and wire in the car.....I just ran out to the garage after reading this and sure enough there was a purple wire not attached to anything..mine had a purple and a purple and white that branched together into a single plug. I just undid them from the plug and plugged them into each other, turned the key and the motor now turns over....Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still cannot get guage lights though.....guages read but no lights....any ideas?????

I assume you turned up the dash light dimmer knob. Do you have working running lights? Is the dash light fuse ok? It's the small one bottom center if this is a later year car.

Wow John, 3 different problems in one string. Go for it ;) Do you want to tell Mr. Behnke about a possible bad solenoid/starter/supply/return or do you want me to? Of course it would help if we know what kind of car he has :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Herb:
Wow John, 3 different problems in one string. Go for it ;) Do you want to tell Mr. Behnke about a possible bad solenoid/starter/supply/return or do you want me to? Of course it would help if we know what kind of car he has :rolleyes: Go for it. It's my nap time anyway.

OK, sorry I wasn't around my confuser today.

Looking at the wiring diagram for the 66. It shows the neutral safety circuit in the same connector as the backup light supply. You said you hadn't hooked that connector up yet. Hmmmm..

The fact the lights don't dim when you hit the starter normally says no connection from ign. sw. to the solenoid. John called it right I'll bet.

When the lights go dim and stay dim until you disconnect the battery, that's usually a bad solenoid or starter not releasing when the key is turned back/off. Turning the key to start energizes the coil of the solenoid, thus literally pulling the internal contact plate against the heavy contacts and energize the starter with full battery power. That's why thelights go dim. The bendix is also mechanically thrown into the flywheel due to inertia and the spinning shaft, etc.etc. However, since the starter isn't turning over but the lights are dimming, it means the soenoid is attempting to power the starter, but the starter isn't spinning. Nor is the solenoid releasing when the key is released. Therefore, I suspect a bad solenoid. The internal contacts are probably pretty well fried. Remove the starter. Replace the solenoid and test everything before reinstalling. Hope the starter isn't bad too.
(There's probably 10otehr things that you could check but this is the most obvious.)

That's my $.02 worth. smile.gif