Hello all,

I'm in the process of restoring a 66 Chevelle SS and am at the point where I'm putting in the engine, dash and front light harness. I already started the engine for the first time by using a remote starter and hot wiring the coil +. I installed the 3 harnesses' and am trying to start it and all I'm hearing is the voltage regulator clicking when I turn the key to acc and when I try to start it.

I get voltage at the coil, alternator, horn relay, volt. reg., when the ignition key is on. Does anyone know the correct way to diagnose this? Where are my grounds supposed to be. I have one from the smaller negative cable wire but that's it I think. Is the volt reg supposed to be grounded?

Thanks for your help

Corey

Are you sure the clicking is from the regulator and not the starter solenoid? Ground from battery to alternator bracket or head, this is the main negative cable. Not sure on a 66 but smaller negative cable on a 70 goes to passenger side front fender, should go to body sheet metal somewhere. There are also several grounds on the rad support of a 70, these are from the front light wiring harness. Voltage regulator is grounded to rad support by mounting screws.

Do you have 12v on the purple wire, think it's purple on a 66, going to S terminal on starter when trying to start? Do you have a good solid connection between main positive battery cable and starter?

Yes, its definately from the volt reg and not the starter solenoid. It starts if I use the remote starter thats why I know the starter, starter sol, battery and such are right.

The volt. reg is attached to the rad support but with rubber around the bolts so its not ground that way. I get voltage at the cover bolts, that is if I touch a test light to ground and then touch the bolts it lights up.

I didn't check any of the wires at the starter, I guess I figured that they didn't have voltage because It wasn't turning over.

Yes, its definately from the volt reg and not the starter solenoid. It starts if I use the remote starter thats why I know the starter, starter sol, battery and such are right.

The volt. reg is attached to the rad support but with rubber around the bolts so its not ground that way. I get voltage at the cover bolts, that is if I touch a test light to ground and then touch the bolts it lights up.

I didn't check any of the wires at the starter, I guess I figured that they didn't have voltage because It wasn't turning over.
DOH, you did say that you started it with a remote starter, doesn't mean all the connections to the starter are good though, depends on how the remote starter was wired.

Case of voltage regulator should be grounded, most have a small black wire that is screwed to the rad support, either by the mounting screws or a separate grounding screw. Need a solid ground as a reference point for the voltage regulator to sense the charge rate.

Alright, so I should ground the volt. reg. case. Would that prevent the starter from getting voltage. I assume since the coil was getting voltage the starter should because they seem to be on the same path. Does the volt reg/Alternator or front light harness in general need to be hooked up at all to be able to start the engine?

Figured I would start to understand this electrical stuff alot more by working with the new harnesses but its not looking that way.

No you don't need voltage regulator or alt to start car, it should start and run off battery until it goes dead. You need 12v at the S terminal of starter to start it, that's what you did when you used a remote starter switch. Now you need to trace back the purple wire from the starter. Sounds like ignition switch is ok if you get voltage to coil with key on. Could be neutral safety switch/clutch pedal switch, you said interior harness was replaced.

Ahh, clutch safety switch, that may be it. I will look at that tomorrow and report back. Thanks

Yep that was it. My car doesn't have a neutral safety switch originally but the new harness came with a plug for it. I jumpered this and it turns over fine.

Thanks Finally

Corey