QUOTE(993inNC @ Aug 25 2009, 07:59 PM)
QUOTE(jt914-6 @ Aug 25 2009, 07:52 PM)
In that glob of wires going to the relay under the pass. seat there is one that is hot with the key on. Can't remember the color. Find it and put some shrink wrap on it and seal it up. The big yellow is the starter solenoid wire. It needs to be as it is. Ripped the seat belt relay out on my '74 six conversion. Also did away with the relay board too.
Ah ha! see now this is info I need! That would explain why I found a relay wire tied in the engine bay that I couldn't explain until I pulled the fuse and had no starter. So they bypassed the relay under the seat (probably 'cuase it was getting wet!) and routed the starter wire to a safer location.........very good thank you for that! Now what is the big hot one for (who's color you don't recall)?
No, that is not what you found.
First, the wiring under the passenger seat goes to what is called a "logic circuit" and it was never a relay.
It was a one year only safety feature on these cars.
It was activated by the pressure switches in the seats..
Seat belt interlock also.
It activated a light on the dash, and also disabled the starter.
It did get wet and corroded.
The only thing you need to do is remove the two yellow wires from the logic circuit and crimp them together, with waterproof heat shrink tubing.
That is a hot starter wire that has 12 VDC only when the key is in the start position.
Any relay you found in the engine bay, or under the car near the starter is a "fix" called a hot start relay. It was an old ford starter relay monkey rigged to provide more power to the starter when the car gets hot and the electrical connections get weaker. Its not really a fix...its a masking bandaid.
Fix the wiring and ground correctly and remove the hot start relay, everything will be fine...no need to add one more piece of wiring that is not stock and harded to troubleshoot.
BTW....you wont find alot of mercy here for your rust...that car looks easy to fix...
Go find a thread titled "digging into hell"
That is a major rebuild...
Im from the Northeast...we love salt up here....so our car rust out ALOT...
Just take it in stride and dream of the day you are done and driving.
Rich