testing solenoid

[john911sc]

just finished rebuilding my 1974 914 2.0....went to start it...click...click...battery is new....turn on the lights they are bright...took the starter out....took the solenoid off...how do i test the solenoid by itself?....there are two main bolts off the back....if i hook positive to the long one...and negative to the short one ....snould'nt the thing work.....nothing....please help...i dying to drive this thing.....john c.

[Joe Ricard]

You have to connect them both to the same stud. Think it was the long one. Then don't forget the little white yellowish wire that has a push on connector..

[CoolTool]

Hook the negative lead to the metal solenoid case(where the small bolts attach it to the starter), and the positive to where the battery hooks up. With some kind of a jumper. jump it across to where the small wire from the key switch hooks up and it should click and you should have 12 volts coming out of the other big terminal. Sounds like a hard way to do it, but just simply touching the positive lead to the small terminal doesn't really let you know if it is working right.
David

[Ron Meier]

First, put the solenoid back on the starter. Attach jumper cable positive to large copper bolt at top of solenoid. Attach jumper cable negative lead to starter body. With jumper cables attached to appropriate posts on battery, ude a screwdriver to jump between copper bolt and the spade terminal. This should kick the solenoid and the starter gear will spin and move out of the housing.

Make sure you have a good hold on the starter, as the torque wil cause it to jump.

or

look in your yellow pages and take it to an automotive electrical shop for testing. Some chain auto parts stores will test it for you.

[red-beard]

Most of the Kragen Stores have a starter and alternator testor.

Not affiliated with Kragen, blah, blah, blah.

James

[Ron Meier]

Wrong James,

With the cars you own, you LIVE in auto parts stores (getting any kickbacks from Kragen )