Remote
Starter Solenoid Installation
So your Chevy is experiencing hot start
problems. You've ruled out the starter as the culprit, or replaced it
entirely, you've checked all the connections but you still experience
those no start conditions. What to do next? Add a Ford Starter Solenoid
to your Chevy of course!
It worked for Chevy, it can work for you. Chevrolet offered a remote
solenoid for their motorhomes for the very same reason.
Why? Because when wire gets warmer, its
resitance goes up. Which means, when things are toasty warm your starter
is not getting enough juice to activate the (on starter) solenoid from
the original "start" wire. The wire is essentially acting like
a ballast resistor. As well, the starter heat soak creates its own set
of unique problems. Wiring in a Ford Solenoid will alleviate the wire
voltage drop problem by giving the starter mounted solenoid full battery
potential when you turn the key.
What you need to do;
- Get a Ford starter solenoid, of
course.
- These units ground through the
bracket. For fool-proof grounding, run a well grounded wire to
one of the screws you use to secure the solenoid to the
firewall.
- If you are adamant about not
having any Ford parts on your General Motors product, simply
visit your favorite AC Delco parts house and purchase p/n U939.
- You can use just about any Ford
starter solenoid, later model cars came with a stubby unit with
all the terminals opposite the mounting flange, such as found on
1987 and newer Ford Crown Vics and Mercury Grand Marquis. (until
1996 or so when Ford went to the starter mounted solenoid like
the Chevy your converting. Go figure.)
- Relocate ALL the wires that are
currently connected to the BAT terminal on your starter (the large
terminal) to the 'hot' side of the Ford solenoid (that's the side
connected to the battery, typically the large post to the left on
the ford solenoid)
- This will allow you to relocate
the wires away from the headers and hot engine block. You
will only have a SINGLE cable running to the starter, not a
bunch of wires.
- Relocate the 'start' wire on the
starter solenoid (small terminal closest to the engine) to the 'S'
terminal on the ford solenoid.
Thats about all there is to adding a
remote solenoid to your GM. A couple advantages to having the Ford
solenoid:
-It's a lot easier to "start the car with a screwdriver" since
all the terminals are up on the firewall.
-Convenient to connect a
"bump-starter switch" to set valve lash.
-Only wire wire running to
starter. Which means much easier to install or remove starter, and
less likely that a group of wires will be touching headers or exhaust
manifolds.
This information is only intended as an
overview and may not include all the necessary information, data, or
facts.
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2003 Maliburacing.com |