1976 280z:

I've just replaced my starter and for fome reason it won't crank anymore. I've narrowed it down to my "excite" wire on the solenoid.

I've rigged a switch connecting the + battery to the male connector on the solenoid spade, so I turn the key and flip the switch for a second or two and presto!

It's a bit annoying and probably not very safe. Where does the excite wire lead to? I see it going into a mess of other wires that are all electric-tapped together. But I'd like to know if anyone could tell me where it ends up before I start taking everything apart.

What you have done is "hot wire" the starter. Since that works, the "excite" wire you mention sounds like the ignition wire coming from the switch on the steering column. The most likely culprit is the electrical component of the ignition switch. It is easily replaced.

Jim

Have you heard of ford solenoid mod.

http://www.zcar.com/70-83_tech_discussion_forum/ford_starter_solenoid_616758.0.html

I never thought much of that mod. With properly functioning components in the starting system you'd never 'need' it.

It's not the components it's the wires.

Common fix on old cars not just z cars.

Wires, to me, are part of the components. Common or not, I've never thought much of it. More of a 'rig' than a 'fix. JMO......

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by sblake01

I've just had the start and solenoid rebuilt.

So the wire goes to the switch on the steering column? I'm gonna test it for continuity. If it's good I might be tempted to replace my key-ignition with a push-button ignition (is that even still available?).

If you replace the part mentioned in post #2 there shouldn't be a need for that.

This.

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by sblake01

Also, you could use a small relay in place of the ford starter solenoid. If you trigger the relay with a weak ignition it will still usually work.

I guess I just have never been one to add something to cover up a problem. I've always been one to find and fix the actual problem. As far as this being a "common fix on old cars not just z cars", well I've owned several of both and the only cars I ever had Ford solenoids on were the Fords I owned that were supposed to have them.

Unless the wiring for the starter has been really modified, you should be able to find the original wire that connected to the starter solenoid, and extend it as necessary. Since you are willing to start adding relays and other new wires, you might have to dig into the wiring harness to find the original wire, or restore the starter system as it initially was.