Red & Black solenoid wire, is it ignition wire?

[4gearwonder]

Hi all, any help always appreciated here, thank you..!

VAN is: 1.9 AAZ Diesel, '84 Bilbo

Problem is: Engine won't crank. Did the lights on bit test - have brand new battery too - turned ignition on and lights dimmed
when turning ignition so it seems power is going to starter.

Starter motor: Have now taken out and tested and solenoid and motor working fine, so all good there.

But? When I took starter off the van, there was only the main positive feed wire attached to it. Then found this Red and Black wire
that runs about the same length as the starter motor - looking a bit cruddy too! - floating around. I'm guessing this probably is the reason why it's stopped cranking and must have just worked loose?

Just liked to check tho please - if anyone can confirm? - that this red and black wire is the main ignition wire and if it is, then hopefully a case of cleaning all contacts, tighten etc and that will fix?

Thanks a lot

Brian




 

[davidoft1]

Yeah that’s the cranking wire

[4gearwonder]

Thanks David. Felt it was but good to get a confirmation too. Thanks mate 

[colinthefox]

The two wires going to the starter motor should be tied to the starter body with a large cable tie. If not, they will vibrate, hardening the wires and loosening the terminals, especially the trigger wire terminal. It's just one of those little details that should make your van more reliable.

[4gearwonder]

Good tip, thanks Colin. Sure, seems like a vibration issue that's done this and was looking to make it more secure when I refit the starter early tomorrow. It's the kind of thing that can let you down in the middle of a field somewhere - and Sod's law, in the dark! so it's worth a 'belt and braces' job whenever you can on this sort of stuff! Cheers.


 

[colinthefox]

Slight correction required to my previous post.........

The two wires should be strapped to the solenoid body with a large cable tie, not to the starter body.

 

[Robsey]

I can see a bit of green copper-oxide / verdi-gris in there.
Worth a quick clean, or better still a new female spade crimping on there.

Can't beat a secure clean connection.
Especially for the starter solenoid wire.

[4gearwonder]

Thanks Robsey. Yeah, was a bit green! but I zapped it with good dose of contact spray, small needle file etc and used a small cable tie too to secure it to the other blank terminal post next to it so hopefully this ain't going no where now! 

With the new battery too, the engine fires up almost instantly and we'd managed to get away this weekend as planned too. 

Thanks for everyone's input on this one too tho : ) 

Cheers all.

[Robsey]

Another thing I do with female spades is to give them a gentle squeeze with pliers to give them a tighter grip on the relevant male spade - in this case on the starter solenoid.

[Oldiebut goodie]

You may want to consider soldering a wire directly to the solenoid and bring the connection into the shelter of the engine bay, this is what I did with mine after I had the usual corrosion of the connection at the terminals and back up the wire.

[4gearwonder]

Thanks guys for those added tips. I did indeed make sure that spade terminal had a gentle squeeze to grip the terminal and soldering is always good idea too of course to make those connections more permanent 

[Jeroensto]

I have a similar situation to the one described above:
Just like him my van woudnt crank but after having found the crank-cable and having renewd it, it still wouldnt crank.
I later discovered this red cable, that if connected to the battery started turning my alternator. When i put my key in the on-position and reconnected the red wire to the battery, my van started right up.

I was wondering where that wire was supposed to be? It seems to come from the front of the van, but i dont know what its purpose is.

[Mocki]

I have a similar situation to the one described above:
Just like him my van woudnt crank but after having found the crank-cable and having renewd it, it still wouldnt crank.
I later discovered this red cable, that if connected to the battery started turning my alternator. When i put my key in the on-position and reconnected the red wire to the battery, my van started right up.

I was wondering where that wire was supposed to be? It seems to come from the front of the van, but i dont know what its purpose is.

Turning your alternator ??

[Lobster]

Hi iv also got a problem with wiring to my starter motor, have just bought caravelle it started fine when I saw it and when it was delivered but now when I try and start van nothing, lights on dash working fine, red and black wire connected but I have also a brown wire with spade fitting and another tube like connecter, would show photos but no idea how to do that
Thanks Paul

[Mocki]