To start and run a vintage car, you need only four wires—
three for the starter and one for the coil
. To recap: Thick, red wire from battery positive to threaded post on the starter motor. It can be a jumper cable, but if you need to move the car, a secured battery cable is much better.
Where do wires go on starter?
The
negative (ground)
cable connects the negative “-” battery terminal to the engine cylinder block, or transmission, close to the starter. The positive cable connects the positive “+” battery terminal to the starter solenoid.
Where do the 3 wires go on a starter?
The +
wire goes to the teminal on
the starter that is farthest away from the case(top, next to the small signal wire) and the – wire goes to one of the tranny-block bolts.
What happens if you wire a starter backwards?
What happens if starter wires are backwards? When reversing the wires,
most starters change the fields to cause the motor to spin in the same direction
. It is difficult to connect the positive wire from the battery to the negative of the starter, so you have to make a short circuit.
What does the R and S mean on a starter?
S is for “start” R
(sometimes I) , well, not sure on R, but I is for ignition(points cars used this to bypass the ignition resistor on crank(oil filled coils don’t last long with full 12-14v to them, so the resistor dropped feed voltage will running to ~10v, but they still needed 12+v to start the engine)
What happens if you put the wrong starter on?
What happens if you put starter on wrong? The purpose of a starter is to start the engine of your car. So, if there is something wrong with the starter, the starter solenoid, or the battery,
your engine will not run properly
.
Does it matter which way a solenoid is wired?
If they are connected to a terminal, you are good to go
. The small gage wires on the small terminal are the same as the small gage wires on the larger terminal. It does not matter because it isn’t specified in the instruction manual.
Can a starter motor spin the wrong way?
Yes,
it is possible to assemble the starter motor wrong and have it run backwards
. Usually, the yoke has been flipped 180 degrees and simply has to be flipped back. If it is backwards, when operated, the one way clutch would just spin and never engage the engine.
What does the S and I stand for on a starter solenoid?
S stands for “start”, not starter.
I stands for “ignition”
. As explained above when trying to start the car power is put to the s terminal and the solenoid is energized. The other end of the coil is connected thru the mounting bolts.
Does the positive wire go to the starter?
The
positive cable connects the positive “+” battery terminal to the starter solenoid
. A poor connection at the battery cables can cause the starter motor to not run.
What does R mean on a key switch?
“R” is typically to indicate
“red wire” out to components that need 12V power in the RUN position of
switch (Cub to name one). “S” indicates starter control out. “L” can indicate lights if lights function is part of the key switch duties (may have other functions on different machines.
How can I tell if my starter is bad?
- Something sounds off. …
- You’ve got lights but no action. …
- Your engine won’t crank. …
- Smoke is coming from your car. …
- Oil has soaked the starter. …
- Look under the hood. …
- Tap the starter. …
- Adjust the transmission.
How do you tell if it’s your starter or ignition switch?
It
is under the hood
, usually on the passenger side at the bottom of the motor next to the transmission. The ignition switch is a set of electrical contacts that activates the starter and usually is located on the steering column.
What are the signs of a bad starter solenoid?
- Engine Doesn’t Crank or Start. …
- No Clicking Noise When Trying to Start the Engine. …
- Starter Spins Without Fully Engaging the Flywheel (Rare) …
- Engine Cranks Slowly (Rare) …
- Test the battery. …
- Check That Power is Getting to the Starter Solenoid.
Which side of a starter solenoid is positive?
To check the solenoid and ignition switch, connect the voltmeter across the solenoid. Connect the voltmeter across the solenoid terminals, the
negative lead on the feed (battery) side
, the positive on the starter side.
Is there a positive and negative side on a solenoid?
Electrical polarity
