Re: Starter Problem-Continuing-Wagonmaster

[MikeIIDC@domain.elided]

> Michael:
>   It may have been me that suggested the test wire.  That's what I did
> on my truck at first.  Since it works every time with that setup, you have
> confirmed that there is NOTHING WRONG with your starter or battery.
> What you confirmed is there is a problem with the start wire.  Consider
> the path for this wire:  Start terminal of the Ign switch, to the coil of a
> relay
> under the dash.  The other side if that coil connects to the neutral safety
> switch.  So if you are in park or neutral, the wire is grounded, and moving
> the key to the start position activates the relay.  The switched contacts
> in the relay connect to the battery, and down to the 'S' terminal on the
> starter.  

> The big wires connect to the alternator, and down to the big lug on the
> battery.
> They connect to the ammeter inside.  From a bulkhead perspective,
> there are two wires that could be a problem--the one that connects to
> the neutral safety switch, and the one that goes back to the 'S' terminal
> on the starter.  If either one is not making good contact, you won't be able
> to start.  I think they are on the same connector, but do not remember which
> one.
> 
>   What could be happening?  Based on your unpredictable problem, it
> could be the connection from the coil of the relay to the neutral safety
> switch, and it could just be a worn out relay.  It might be the neutral
> safety switch, if the relay is not activated when it won't start.  Lastly,
> it could be the bulkhead connector.  Some tracing and testing
> when it is in the 'no start' mode should narrow it down.
> 
> Hopefully, the above explanation will help you track it down.
> 
> Allan Weidenheimer
> 72 1210 Pickup
> 
> p.s.  Does it work again after a cool down period?



Allan-

Thanks for the info, and for the "hot wire" idea-I apologize for not
remembering who saved me on that one.

Always seemed to start after a cool-down period on its own. However, it
recently started not quite going into park when I put it in park some of
the time.  So once it started to roll when I thought I was in park. 
After trying to jamming it into park, it started.  I have since
experimented a few times with this, and it has not been a hundred
percent effective, but about 90%.  Once it still wouldn't turn over,
even as I tried to hold it in park.

So, with the two of these symptoms, I am guessing that it is the neutral
safety switch, which I bought long ago but was pointed in another
direction before installing, or just that the linkage for my
on-the-column shifter is out of whack, and not triggering the switch
right.  I have tried jiggling it int neutral before to start it, which
never worked when it was in "no start" mode, but that was back when I
was blaming the starter.  Now that all else seems good-which should OI
check first-the Tranny apparatus and shifter lever-steering column was
replaced, so this could easily be a little out of whack I would guess,
or should I check the neutral safety switch?  And where on the tranny is
the neutral safety switch, so I can change it?

Thanks again for any and all info/help that you (all) can/have in the
past offered!

Michael