The starter does not make a noise....did I kill it by leaving the ignition on? The battery is new and i charged it and checked it.
Full Version: left the ignition on overnight
well, trying to do too much around the house during spring cleanup while trying to figure out some electrical stuff on the 914 was not a good idea. The next day I found a dead battery and the ignition in the on position. The car has carbs and I have a fuel pump off switch that was in the off position (I just put that in).
The starter does not make a noise....did I kill it by leaving the ignition on? The battery is new and i charged it and checked it.
The starter does not make a noise....did I kill it by leaving the ignition on? The battery is new and i charged it and checked it.
QUOTE
I'd be careful how long you keep the key at the "ON" position. Depending what position the points are at, it could fry the points, or even ruin the ignition coil. If you have electronic points, you would definately destroy the module by leaving the key in the "on" position for more than a minute. It would be good to have a partner check the voltages while your manning the ignition switch. If you don't have an extra hand, maybe disconnect the point gnd wire going to the coil. Or if you have a good multimeter, you could use the "hold" feature, which will document voltages.
from an old, old thread, well a month old anyway! LOL
More than likely you killed the electrical portion of the switch. Key on, car in neutral, P brake on (if you have it), then jump the solenoid. If it starts, its probably the key switch.
Just test the starter/circuit. Pull the lead off the solenoid side of the starter. Have someone crank the car and test the lead for 12volts. If you have 12volts when cranking you have a bad starter. If no voltage is present, you have a problem in the starting circuit. You can also put 12volts to the solenoid to test the starter.
I will give that a try first and see what happens. Thanks
My guess is you fried the coil.. among other things (Not starter related.. but..)
ok, here it the latest. Used my remote starter button and it started and ran fine. Purchased a new ignition switch and installed it. The key still does not crank the starter. What is next? 
On a '74 you have the ignition interlock underneath the passenger seat (couple of relays).
If you haven't cut and tied the big yellow wires together, do so (bypasses interlock).
If you haven't cut and tied the big yellow wires together, do so (bypasses interlock).
Do you get 12v at the yellow wire to the starter solenoid when the key is at the start position? Do you have the seat belt lock out beneath the drivers seat. If so; has it been jumped?
QUOTE(rgolia @ Jun 8 2012, 09:56 AM) 
ok, here it the latest. Used my remote starter button and it started and ran fine. Purchased a new ignition switch and installed it. The key still does not crank the starter. What is next?
When the key is turned in the ignition it rotates a Cam which engages the electrical portion of the switch. The "cam" that turns the electrical portion of the switch can bend/twist backwards causing the switch to not turn far enough. It's pretty co-incidental to you leaving the ignition on, but sounds plausible. I hear it's a pretty common problem.
I fixed mine... www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=165861
Yes the lockout is jumped. I will look at the tab that goes into the starter solenoid, perhaps my key was turned when I installed it. I will try starting it with the screw driver........ more to come.
One good thing that has come out of this mess it that I found my short to the right blinkers.
One good thing that has come out of this mess it that I found my short to the right blinkers.
The screwdriver does the same thing as the remote starter button and you've already done that. Pull the yellow wire from the solenoid and check the actual voltage on that wire when the key is turned to start; not the run position.
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