My '70 has never given me any electrical problems until last week. After starting I could hear the starter motor still running and the key would not kill the engine or starter. I pulled the coil wire to kill the engine then pulled a battery cable to kill the starter. I suspected the ignition switch but thought I'd better check the starter since I had just replaced it two months ago. It checked out OK. the fusible link on the wire at the battery post appeared loose at the crimp so I fixed it. I had courtesy lights and warning lights but it would not start. I pulled the battery and it checked OK. After jiggling the key several times I lost the courtesy and warning lights. I have 13+ volts from the starter to the horn relay but nothing in the cabin. What confuses me is that if the problem is the ignition switch, why are non-switchable items such as horn, courtesy lights and brake lights not operating? I've stared at the AIM wiring diagram until I have a mental block. Help!
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Re: '70 Ignition Switch Problem?
Total loss of power to the cabin circuits is typically the result of a failed (open circuit) fuseable link. These DO wear out due to years of heat soak (passenger cars placed their links elsewhere to avoid radiated heat stress) and a bad link will result in no power to the cabin including the ignition switch.
Peel back the tape wrap on the harness feeding the starter motor and you'll see where the fuseable link is spliced into the harness. Cut the old one off, replace it (any auto parts store, about $2) and re-wrap the harness. -
Re: '70 Ignition Switch Problem?
As I stated in my post, I repaired the crimp on the 14ga brown fusible link at the solinoid and I have 13+ volts to ground where it ties to the horn relay, but now that you mention it, there is a 16ga black fusible link leaving the horn relay to the 12ga red wire on the way to the bulkhead connector on the firewall. That may be the problem with the power in the cabin. I replace it and see if it helps. I still think the starter motor running and the switch not shutting down the engine is probably a switch problem. What do you think?Comment
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Re: '70 Ignition Switch Problem?
See my email to you... I'm talking about the MAIN fuseable link that resides inside the wiring harness tape wrap on the leg of the engine harness that serves the starter motor, NOT the secondary engine compartment links that are clearly visible on subsequent branch circuits at the horn relay.Comment
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