Where to start?

[elwood-914]

Hi All,

I took out my engine to repair stripped sparkplug threads. I've got the engine back in hooked everything up as I remember it....turn the key and the fuel pump pumps and stops, turn the key and nothing. I have power to the starter (large red wire) I do not have power to the yellow wire when I turn the key to the starting position. Any ideas where to start? Ignition switch was fine before the car went up on jacks. Thanks.

[Bleyseng]

How about the tranny ground strap? Got that installed?

[elwood-914]

Originally posted by Bleyseng
How about the tranny ground strap? Got that installed?

Yes I do, I took a good ground and hooked up a test light to the yellow wire and made my wires long enough to see it while I was in the car turning the ignition switch.........alas no light

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

OK, it's time to check out the yellow wire, then. The wire (going backwards against the current) goes from the starter to the rear connection on the relay board. It makes a connection inside the relay board, but continues to the front connector. From there, it goes to the ignition switch. (A 74 and many 75s would have the Infamous Seatbelt Interlock Relay in the middle there, but your 74 should not.)

Does the fuel pump run while you have the key in the "start" position? If so, then the current is reaching the relay board and the connection inside there--that connection tells the FI to also run the fuel pump while the starter is cranking.

If not, then you should start checking for voltage (your test light will do) at each connection in the system. You can simply unplug each connector in turn and check on the correct terminal on the relay board or the connector (check the wiring diagram for which pin the yellow wire hooks up to).

Good luck!

--DD

[elwood-914]

Bleyseng & D.D., Thanks for your help. Tested out the yellow wire at the relay board and I had the harness to the starter misaligned.....bad eye sight I guess. It starts up! I have one vacuum hose to figure out and no tac......but I'll do a search on that.
Thanks for helping keep a dream alive.
E.