24 replies to this topic

[ralphbrown15]

Hello,

I recently have put a manual engine into my auto Mayfair. I have finally finished wiring it all up and got everything ready to start. Got a new solenoid and starter motor cable (the old ones looked a little old). Went to start it, the lights came up on the dash but nothing happened, then wires started smoking. No idea why. its the wires that go to the distributor and to the ignition coil.

I searched it on this forum, seems like it could be the earth strap, I only have one that connects from the manifold to the top engine mount.

any idea what it could be? and how much its going to cost me to fix?

Also is there anyone in the Stirling area that could help?

Thanks!

Ralph

[myredmini]

Do you have a black and white wire on the starter ?

[ralphbrown15]

Starter motor? I only have a big black wire that goes to the starter motor

[myredmini]

I mean small wires, I had a small wire which was getting a live through being connected to my starter which should have been unearthed on my coil. My wires burnt too

[ralphbrown15]

Theres possibly a black and white wire connected to the coil, could it be on the wrong side?

[myredmini]

Maybe, should be earthed

[Ash Mitchard]

if thats the only way it can earth it might get seriously hot causing the burning and smoke, how about the engine earth cable?

[ralphbrown15]

Would it be possible that the solenoid isnt earthed properly?

I'll be trying again tomorrow, will buy plenty of new earth straps. Are the wires that were smoking still okay to use?

[Ash Mitchard]

if they have been overheated its best to get some new ones in there just to be certain :) shouldn't be too expensive :) at least your manifold hasn't snapped in half lol.

do you get problems with the choke?

[ralphbrown15]

Ahah I'd like to think that'll never happen. I just wanted to see if it would turn over, never got as far as any other problems. the starter motor should have turned though right? it didnt do anything, what does that mean?

[Yoda]

It means you have wired it up wrong! time to get your Haynes manual out i think!

May the force be with you

[Ash Mitchard]

could be a flat battery if there was a click, or the engine earth cable wasn't doing its job properly and trying to earth through the choke cable, check that the choke cable will still pull in and out? :)

[tiger99]

Overheating ignition wiring is nothing to do with the earth, although it is very important that the engine earth strap is connected, and the body where it is connected is rust-free. If the earth was missing there would never be any current through these wires.

But overheating choke or throttle cables is a conclusive sign of a missing earth.

It is almost certain that the coil wires are wrongly fitted.

[dklawson]

+1 on Tiger's comments.

My first thought is that you have connected the coil power from the ignition switch to coil (-)... the distributor side of the coil instead of coil (+). If you make that mistake, you will have a dead short as soon as you turn the ignition switch to the run position. Since the coil circuit is unfused, your low-tension ignition wires will get very hot very quickly.

[tiger99]

Doug, exactly that! I should have taken time to explain it a bit better. And someone suggested that the coil should be earthed.....