Ignition problem

Sounds like this problem http://www.panteraplace.com/page15.htm but in your case the solenoid may have gone bad.

Mike

Thanks for the reply! I'll check there first!

The other possibility is the ignition switch but let’s hope it is OK.

Mike

I checked all the wiring and even tried some alternate routing but the problem still persists. I guess that the next try will be replacing the solenoid.

I found the problem today, this
is another one for the books. The starter solenoid has two big lugs for the
battery and power cable to the starter and also two small terminals. One
terminal is the energizing wire from the ignition switch, the other had a
blue/black wire which I didn't know the origin or destination. I had always
thought that the terminal was supposed to be unused but the wire seemed a
factory item so it never concerned me.

I disconnected that wire and the car started right up the way that its
supposed to. Tracing the wire, I found that it went to the "-" pole of the
ignition coil! The wire appears to be a factory wire with terminals and
boot cover which are time period correct. It was wrapped into the wire
harness as are all factory wires. I had always assumed that the blue/black
wire at the coil side was the tach feed and was surprised to find that it
went to the starter solenoid. The tach feed wire on my car is a dark
brown. Oh well, I guess that the wiring is all different on early cars.

So basically, the blue/black wire from the solenoid was feeding the "-" coil
terminal with 12 volts! Go figure! I had never been into that part of the
car so unless the previous owner did something, that's the way it came from
the factory. The wire, terminals, boot and wrapping into the harness all
looked orignal 35 years old!

quote:

I disconnected that wire and the car started right up the way that its
supposed to.

I'm confused.
(yea, I know)

So the wiring is now how it HAD been prior to the move?

Then you found it (tach wire) lose (in troubleshooting) and connected it, giving you the trouble?

?????

Just not clear on what was wrong, what had changed, and what returned it to 'normal'.

Larry

I have never done any ignition wiring work on this car since buying it. I discovered the tach wire disconnected after the move to Vegas. I don't remember taking it off or the tach ever not working. This tach wire is not the normal black/blue wire as is on most Panteras but is a dark brown. This wire never caused any problems and the tach worked fine when I reconnected it.

The wire that caused the problem was blue and black in color and was connected from the solenoid terminal to the negative post on the ignition coil. The wire appears to be a factory wire. All of the terminals and boots look like 35 year old Ford and it was wrapped in the wiring harness. As far as I remember, it was always there and not touched by me.

The problem that I was having was the car turning over but not starting until the key was released from the start position. Once this wire was disconnected, the car started as normal. I don't know why this wire was there supplying 12v when the key was on to the negative post of the ignition coil.

I wonder if someone had attempted to hot wire the car during shipping. Anyone know of a car being wired like this?

Dennis,

If the tach was working before shipping, and didn't work after delivery, and connecting a disconnected wire made the tach work, and the tach wire has a ring terminal on it, then I would say that someone was messing with your car. The nut must be removed from the coil stud for the ring terminal to be removed.

John

That wire should have been connected to the plus side of the coil. That is the start bypass of the resistor.
Forest

The tach wire did have a ring connector so someone must have taken it off. Maybe the wire was put on the wrong terminal at the same time? I'M starting to think that someone was trying to hot wire the car!