No start, Need electrical guru help Options

[DickSteinkamp]

1976. V8 Conversion, but the starter wiring is (near) stock.

It did this once in the past, and has done it again. Turn the key to the start position, hear a relay click under the dash, but the starter doesn't engage and spin. If I jump the big cable at the starter to the terminal on the solenoid that the brown wire is connected to, the starter spins and starts the car.

The last time it healed itself after the car sat for a couple of hours. It hasn't been that long now, but I need to find what the problem is and fix it.

I have jumpered around the original seat belt interconnect.

Ideas?

(BTW, electricity is magic to me so keep it simple (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

[76-914]

It's the switch, starter or your not getting enough voltage to the starter solenoid. If it starts after whacking the starter with a hammer then it is sticking. Can you check the voltage at the yellow wire when the switch is turned? I assume you retained the stock 901 transmission. If so, have you done the Ford relay trick at the starter. You said that you hear a relay beneath the dash when the key is turned. Is there one there??? Shouldn't be and if you find a small square one is indeed in that circuit odds are it isn't passing enough current. Ask me how I know this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)