trouble getting xj to turn over

[nightpilot]

My xj that i am resurecting will sometimes crank when I push the starter button and sometimes not. I cleaned the button contacts but that has not seemed to make a difference. also cleaned contacts on solenoid. it does not seem to matter if i wiggle the starter button when pushed so I am led to believe it is not the switch. I can push it once or twice and nothing then the next time it will go. sometimes it goes the first push. do the solenoids go in this way. no bendix running and not engaging noises. thought one time i hear click in solenoid when pushed button and did not turn over but not sure. make any sense to you guys?????

[DGXSER]

You can check if it is the solenoid by jumping the blue/white wire to ground or battery negative and the red/white wire to the battery positive. If it turns over and or starts, then the problem is either in your Emergency stop switch, or the starter button. Could also be a corroded ground from the starter button.

Could also be your ignition fuse, especially If you still have the old glass fuses. When it is not working, check for 12 volts at the rew/white wire side of the ignition fuse.

[nightpilot]

ok, I am going to go out and check the solenoid as you indicated, where is the ground for the starter button.

[DGXSER]

Basically, the blue white wire is a path to ground from the solenoid. The starter button is just a momentary contact button to complete the ground leg.

If you find the solenoid kicks when you go straight to battery, then start tracing the current path for 12 volts using your meter and checkign to ground. The path goes, R/W wire at fuse - R/W wire to emergency stop switch - R/W wire form e-stop to solenoid - Blue/white wire form solenoid to starter button - black wire from starter button to ground.

[nightpilot]

Thanks Dgxser, the solenoid did kick every time and one time the starter button dead another it ok. bad ground makes sense. helpful info that re function of starter button to complete ground. some po idiot eliminated all the fuses except main and aux. but was able to find r/w from where fuse would be and makes sense, if i read you right, my guess is the black from starter button to ground is where the problem seems to be if not in button contact.

[nightpilot]

found button to ground on schematic, before you exp was button completed ground was confused at what I was looking at, will chase wire and get back.

[DGXSER]

Yes, essentially, the blue white wire leaving the solenoid is the grounding wire to the solenoid. It changes to a black wire on the other side of the starter button, so the "starter button" is really a contact to close the ground side of the solenoid and complete the circuit. My first bet from your expanation is the starter button itself.

[nightpilot]

yes it sounds like it, i guess i can check it by jumping the contacts in the switch while i have it openned up. as of now the starter is failing to function at least fifty percent of the time so should be an easy check. if not that then where the switch is grounded. either way sounds like the solution is narrowed. I tried to put something behind the switch to give tighter contact before but need something better for a good try. will get back.

[nightpilot]

DGSXER you were right. Although I cleaned the switch and thought it was making good contact, apparently not the case. Jumping the switch kicked off the solenoid every time. I reshimmed the switch and will try it. However, the metal double contact bar that moves in the switch is real sloppy and it is a wonder it works at all. any more trouble from it and i think i will just put two switches on, one on and off for the headlight and a normally open push switch for the starter and that will fix it. Thanks for the help.

[DGXSER]

The starter switch and the horn switch are both the same. I think Mikes XS sells a horn switch.

[trbig]

I think Mikes XS sells a horn switch.

The starter and the horn switch are indeed the same, but not the same as the XS. The XJ's are square, and MikesXS won't have them.

Tod

[DGXSER]

Thanks Tod, Another tidbit of knowledge to throw ino the pit. Friggin XS owners, never thinkin how the XJ might be different...

[trbig]

No problem. Us XJ owners are the redheaded step-kids of the group.

We want to be included.. but we're just.. you know... different!


Tod

[madmax-im]

No problem. Us XJ owners are the redheaded step-kids of the group.

We want to be included.. but we're just.. you know... different!


Tod

Yeah and better lookin too

[nightpilot]

reshimming the switch didnt seem to help, it is half way working now. you guys got my attention when you said the horn and starter switch were the same. that didnt make sense to me because the horn seemed to be one normally open circuit that just completed the circuit with the horn where the starter was normally closed to run the headlight and normally open for grounding the starter. then openning one and closing the other when button pushed. I went out and checked and that seems to be the case. I did not take the horn completely apart but it looks different. I think it is a good idea to bypass the pesky starter switch, go to radio shack, and put in two switches or possibly find a double pole double throw that could be hooked up in the same way.