63 Ignition won't kill engine_FINAL CHAPTER

[Steve D.]

Spoiler alert_we got it fixed.

Sparing all the details, we found not short in the solenoid. While trouble shooting we disconnected the pink wire at the solenoid, coil and resistor at various times but could not find a short using the meter (or visually). We reconnected everything and checked for voltage to the coil with the key off and it was no longer hot. Started the car, turned the key off and the engine shut down normally. I suspect that the short was from the battery cable connection at the solenoid to the pink wire connection. I suspect this because to get access to the pink wire connection on the solenoid, we had to loosen the battery cable connection to the solenoid and reposition the cable. We did not suspect this at the time and did not check to see if it was touching before loosening the connection. In hindsight I guess we should have. We did not try to recreate the problem afterwards by moving the battery cable back to its original position. There could still be a short somewhere and moving the wires around temporarily separated the wires at the offending point. I hope that's not the case, but time will tell.

Thanks for all of the help. I'm alot more familiar with the ignition circuit than I was before this exercise.

Steve

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Ignition won't kill engine_FINAL CHAPTER

Steve;

This reminds me of the first problem I had with my new 63 after driving it from Wisconsin to New Mexico when I was employed by Uncle Sam. Shortly after our arrival at White Sands, I would shut off my ignition and the engine would start right back up by itself. I finally had to kill it by disconnecting the battery. As soon as I connected it back up, it would start up again on it's own. The Chevy dealer in El Paso found a short at the starter on that one too.

Stu Fox

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Ignition won't kill engine_FINAL CHAPTER

Steve, glad you found it.

If the battery terminal was loose it certainly can touch the "R" terminal and keep the circuit powered. Hopefully that's what it was and the problem is gone for good.

Rich