Ok 74 914 2.0. It has been sitting since 92. Anyway, I am driving it now but there is a problem that is driving me crazy. The very first time I turned it over I used the key all was good. Then the key quit working but I had power going into the circuit board but not coming out (I know I need a new board). So I jumped a wire across the board to the YELLOW wire going to the starter and I am drivng again ! Until I turn it off and now I have no power to the board. So looking at the wiring diagram there is a YELLOW wire going to the board from the ignition then the board then YELLOW to the starter. My 914 does not have a YELLOW wire to the board but has a YELLOW with RED stripe that is from the ignition. In the diagram the only YELLOW with RED stripe wire from the ignition switch goes to the seat belt light...Could that be a problem? The wiring diagram does not show anything between the switch and the board. Switch bad? Now I have a push button to start the car. No Likey Thanks for any ideas. Paul

try'd to read your question but all of the yellow gave me a headache

Ok ok I was bored at work...

This was a little confusing to me also. My first thought is the seat belt relay under the passenger seat may be a problem. The 2 large yellow wires (with or without red stripes) can be connected together to bypass the relay.

I did conect the Yellow\Red to the Yellow and it worked...one time now there is no power from the switch.

Sounds like a bad switch.

Are you sure there is no voltage at the starter when energizing it from the switch? There is a common problem (hot start problem) where some folks install an additional relay for the solenoid. This adds a little boost for the starter solenoid to operate. O.K. not a boost but less of a power drop on the starter circuit.

100% sure that there is no power at the starter, tonight I am going to get under the dash and check the switch... in the diagram it shows the yellow\red strippe going to the seat belts, could that be an issue?

Thanks
Paul

It sounds like the ignition switch. Its a little plastic switch at the end of the key/cylinder assembly in the steering column. I replaced mine, they do easily crack with age. Pelican Parts $7.50

111-905-865K-M61 Ignition Switch, Electrical Portion, 914 1.7/2.0 (1972-74), Each

Dr914's 700 tips book has a good step-by-step procedure on how to replace (need to remove the steering wheel & cylinder assembly etc..)

You should also bypass seatbelt relay (which it sounds like you did - good).

I'm suprised that the relay board is bad, I would remove the T14 & T12 connectors along with the relays and give all the contacts a good cleaning with electrical contact cleaner.

hope this helps,
Tim

It sounds like the ignition switch. Its a little plastic switch at the end of the key/cylinder assembly in the steering column. I replaced mine, they do easily crack with age. Pelican Parts $7.50

111-905-865K-M61 Ignition Switch, Electrical Portion, 914 1.7/2.0 (1972-74), Each

Dr914's 700 tips book has a good step-by-step procedure on how to replace (need to remove the steering wheel & cylinder assembly etc..)

You should also bypass seatbelt relay (which it sounds like you did - good).

I'm suprised that the relay board is bad, I would remove the T14 & T12 connectors along with the relays and give all the contacts a good cleaning with electrical contact cleaner.

hope this helps,
Tim

I will be checking this also, it is amazing the amount of information one can get from a bunch of strangers! This place is great. Thanks a million.

Be CERTAIN that both battery clamps and posts are clean, tight and are conducting electricity. I recently saw a case where a positive battery clamp was giving all sorts of fits. Sometimes it would click, sometimes nothing. After changing switches and starters, it was found that it was a bad connection at the battery.

Might as well start there as it is an inexpensive thing to check.

Good luck with it.

Unless I'm missing something obvious (always a possibility), it sounds like you're concentrating on the relay board in the engine compartment. Since you have a 74, I'd remove the passenger seat and look for two fat YELLOWWWW (had to:) wires at the seat belt relay terminal strip. Jump those together if someone hasn't beat you to it, and try again. The starter signal from the keyswitch has to make it through the seatbelt relay junk before it gets to the relay board.