The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Trouble with wiring

I am having trouble with the wiring in my 1949 Chevy P/U. I received wiring with the purchase of the truck. I have installed all of the wiring in the truck. I have double checked the wiring according to the instruction sheets that came with the wiring. I cannot get the ignition switch to work properly as wired. I purchased the starter switch with the side post per the instructions. I installed the switch and wired it as instructed but I do not get power to the ignition switch. I need help troubleshooting the problem. I am hoping that someone out there has installed this type of wiring and can help me. I have several pictures of the wiring uploaded in photo bucket but do not know how to include in this post.

Thanks

Bennie

Who did you buy your wiring from?

Bennie,

If you know the answer to Dennis's question, people may have first-hand knowledge installing that kit.

Do you have a 6v system or a 12v system?

If you have a six volt system, you do not need the side post on the starter switch.

If you have a 12v system, do you have a ballast resistor?

I did not actually buy the wiring it came with the truck when I bought the truck. It had already been converted to 12v. I think the wiring came from Classic American parts not for sure. I did contact them and they told me that I had to troubleshoot as why I did not have 12 volts which I am not very good at. The truck had a ballast resistor when I got it. It should have been 12 volt because they ran the truck just after it was overhauled. I was not there when this happened.

see the top left corner here, you should have batt + to one terminal of the ignition sw - use that wiring diagram to track whether all your wiring is hooked up properly, an ohm meter will help

Bill

Do you have an automatic trans ? Maybe an issue with the neutral safety switch ? Just one more thing to check.

No it is a 3 speed on column

Is your power wire from your alternator gauge?

The power wire is from the battery. I have an Alternator and have the wires hooked up from the voltage regulator

the original regulator? that should be gone with an alternator - the alternator is either internally regulated or uses a different [more 'modern' 60's-70's] external regulator like this, 4 terminals instead of 3 - the alternator output [large B terminal] needs to go to the ammeter and on to the battery, the new wiring harness may have included a separate alternator harness piece

Bill

Sorry. I run with a generator.

Ok tell me if this is right and am I on the right track? I could never get power to the side terminal on the new starter switch I was told to buy. I ran a wire from the + terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the ignition switch. I now have power at the ignition switch in the on position and the accessory key switch. No power when the key is completely to the left (off) position. I do have power to the light switch lights turn on and dimmer switch changes to bright and dim when I push it. I have tail lights and the dome light will turn off and on by the switch on the dome light. I now have power to the side terminal and to the + side of the coil. I believe this is correct. I still have not checked the brake lights etc. The truck is still in the garage and wires are not burned up. LOL. How does this sound am I on the right track?


Thanks

Bennie

Ok tell me if this is right and am I on the right track? I could never get power to the side terminal on the new starter switch I was told to buy. I ran a wire from the + terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the ignition switch. I now have power at the ignition switch in the on position and the accessory key switch. No power when the key is completely to the left (off) position. I do have power to the light switch lights turn on and dimmer switch changes to bright and dim when I push it. I have tail lights and the dome light will turn off and on by the switch on the dome light. I now have power to the side terminal and to the + side of the coil. I believe this is correct. I still have not checked the brake lights etc. The truck is still in the garage and wires are not burned up. LOL. How does this sound am I on the right track?

Bennie,

Originally, did you have a fat wire from the Positive terminal on battery to the big post on the starter?

Did you also have a relatively smaller wire going from the big post on the starter to the ammeter (a 10 gauge wire, maybe)?

Are you using a 12v or 6v battery?

If you have a 12v battery, do you have a ballast resister anywhere? If yes, where (between the terminal on the coil and what other terminal - probably on the dash ignition switch)?

Yes I still have the fat red wire running from the + on the battery. Then I ran the smaller red wire from the + on the battery and this is how it is hooked up. and I have wire from the ignition to the ballast resister then to the + side of the coil.

Bennie

Bennie,

I am not referring to a fat and thin wire on the battery. I am referring to the fat and thin wires on the STARTER.

The fatter wire is between the battery and the STARTER. The smaller red wire goes from the STARTER to the ammeter.

Do you have a 12v system or a 6v system (battery)?

Yes I have the fatter red wire running from the + terminal on the battery to the starter switch. I have a 12 b battery system. are you referring to small red wire from the side terminal on the starter switch to the amp meter? if so yes I do have this wire to the amp meter.

the wire from the side terminal should go to the coil + to bypass the ignition resistor on cranking .... the wire to the ammeter [from it actually] should connect to the same terminal as the 'fat' wire on the large post, it's for the feed from the generator to charge the battery

Bill