Need Ideas on No Start Problem
 

Bought project '73 2.0 in CA. Started it and drove on tow dolly. Brought home to OR . Put in brand new battery (seller used borrowed battery to get car on dolly) to drive off dolly. Heard a "click" when I connected cables. Tried to start and got NOTHING,
no warning lights on dash, no sound at all. Noticed back up lights were on. Thought this strange since ignition was off and shift lever in neutral. Looked under car and saw that back up light wires were hanging loose near the starter, not plugged in to switch in transaxle. Now I don't even have back up lights. No evidence of electricity anywhere. Car has a hot start relay installed. If I cross the two large post terminals on solenoid I can spin the starter. Haven't yet tried power straight to spade terminal on solenoid yet. Could the back up wires have made contact with something on the relay or solenoid and destroyed something? Are there any other relays involved? How can I trouble shoot the ignition switch? Worked Monday, towed 600 miles, no work on Wednesday. Any ideas, suggestions appreciated. Plan to celebrate Independence under a 914.

First, find a Haynes manual. Then, read the tech article on 914 starters. Double check all grounds especially the tranny ground strap.

A simple way to test the starter wiring (assuming the wiring is close to stock) is to remove the T12 connector located at the engine's relay board. Carefully remove the cover off the connector. Re-install the connector w/o the cover. This is tricky to do, but possible. Using a jumper wire, monetarily touch the large red wire to the large yellow wire at the T12 connector. The starter should spin. This should half split the problem.

As usual, simplest solution is usually it. Positive battery cable connection was good but corrosion did not allow juice to the 4 red wires attached. Had juice to starter through cable but nowhere else. All is good. Thanks Jim. See my latest post with my next question on 2.0 engine ID.