Stater relay weirdness...

[EugeneTheBeast]

I went to start my '84s this weekend and it wouldn't crank. Battery checked, "hot" leads in front of the multi-pin connector on right side fender well checked. Looked at starter relay. What I found was this- the 87 terminal in hot the 86 terminal is energized when the key is turned to the start position. The other terminals are 30 and 85 on the relay. I found that the car would crank if I closed the relay manually (I accidentally discovered this when the cover came off the relay). Tried 2 different relays and still wouldn't crank unless I closed the relay by hand. Cleaned all the grounds above the electrical panel in the passenger foot well-got nothing. Worked all day yesterday on this, then this morning the car cranked up with the old relay like nothing was wrong at all. The only difference was temperature - my car is black and sets outside, it was pretty hot. The morning was way cooler. Probably nothing to do with it but that's the only thing I can think of. But to my question what are the 30 and 85 terminals for? I assume one is the output side of the terminal and the other a ground(?) If that is the case then where is that ground located?

[Sapientoni]

Here's a story of starter weirdness. My '81 was having starter problems right after I bought it. It would jump off instantly. Changed battery. Still doing, Changed ignition switch. Still resistant but would always jump off, WTH? One hot day, It was not turning over, I just held the key to the start position a few seconds, Viola! I took the starter apart and found the starter drive was all gummy with old grease. I cleaned and regreased and never had the problem again. Good luck to ya!

[Alan in AZ]

Thew 86 side of the coil is connected to the ignition switch - the 85 side is not connected to ground - it is connected via the transmission safety switch to ground.

Your issues is almost certainly here. Could be bad connections to the switch - connections are above the battery box in the tire well in the extra niche (under plastic cover). Or possibly more likely (since it sometimes works) - your bowden cable shifter linkage may not be adjusted right (change it recently?) or there may be an issues with the switch itself (in the transmission - not on trans shifter).

BTW 30 terminal is the other side of the relay switch from 87 - it's where the power comes from - so B+.

Alan