<VV> Starter switch gremlin ( revisited)

[Jim Becker]

I suggest you spend a little time studying the wiring diagram before 
willy-nilly pulling things apart to see what happens.  You need to know what 
it is telling you when the lights go on/off when you unplug something.  When 
you connect the battery is there power to the ignition coil?  If so, the 
problem could be a short in the starter solenoid.  By the way, an electrical 
short doesn't have to be between a hot wire and ground.  It can be between 
any two points that are supposed to be electrically isolated.  A hot wire to 
ground is the type that produces smoke and fire.  You are dealing with some 
other short.

The comments made by Jim Bannister start out with a valid statement about 
how indicator lights work.  However, his suggestion about chafed wires in 
the indicator circuits is off on the wrong track.  Your problem is with 
voltage present on the hot side of the indicators when it shouldn't be 
there, not something leaking from the ground side to chassis ground.  With 
the engine not running, that side is grounded by design, additional grounds 
on that side of the circuit are irrelevant.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Kovacs via VirtualVairs
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 1:35 PM
To: VV
Subject:  Starter switch gremlin ( revisited)

Thanks for the suggestions.
Now I checked again today and with NO switch in the harness, the bright red 
lights come on again when the battery is connected. There is a very small 
blue spark upon connection. So there is no smoking short. Power sneaking 
around some how.
The plan is to start at the starter and disconnect the purple and yellow 
(and big red + cable) wires to try to isolate the problem. I'll continue to 
trace the source of power till I find it. Pulling fuses are also in the 
plan.
PS rebuilt starter from Clarks with new solenoid, and new battery cables.
PPS message sent to Corvair Forum also. To damm hot now to start the process 
now.
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