b.gregorich

So they sent me the wrong switch (or I just ordered the wrong size) but still plugged in. After that the voltage jumped up to 5v in the ignition coil. Spend some more time messing around and found that the fuses I bought were another problem because they were slightly skinnier and longer than the original ones so replaced that and it would start and run on her own! But I had to jump the starter still. So I replaced the starter to see if that was it and no it wasn’t so then I did the extra relay solution and now it works great. Just in time for the snow we got! Thanks for the help Brennan.

I didn’t even think about dropping the steering column that would have made it much easier 😂. Just picked up the new ignition switch so let’s hope that’s my problem. If not I have no clue. Will also see about getting a relay for the starter but fixing the switch will Hopfully fix that too.

So I ordered a new ignition switch but man how do you even get back there to take the old one off?! There’s no room at all I even started ripping apart the trip pieces around the tachometer and still no room for that upper screw. Would just take that whole ignition switch housing off but there were only two actual screws and the other two are weird rivet looking things.

So what kind of size of relay would I need to use for that. Saw a post about it yesterday but didn’t find a size. And this drawing helps a lot too way easier to understand now.

Well my 1981 GL got me through most of this weird rump roast winter with little snow however early last month I was ready to leave work and went to start my car. I’ve had some weird starting issues where if I don’t get it started on the first bout of cranking sometimes it won’t crank again just click. This time it did just that and I usually would just go thow a little jump pack on it for a minute and it’ll crank over again. However this time it blew my fusible links and the fuse in the box under ign & fuel gage. Spent the past month pushing off/ learning about all that crap and now it’s suppose to snow soon so I’ve been rushing trying to fix it. I have cleaned and replaced some grounds, pulled apart that little rat nest of wires around the ignition coil, and tested the relays (to the best of my ability). However I cannot seem to get the coil to get any power beyond .80v (I tested the coil and it has proper resistance). A buddy and I did get it running a couple days ago but, when I turned the keys into start, my stater would engage and the engine would fire however once I would let go and it would flip back to run it would completely cut out. Made a post about the prior problems I had on in a Facebook group and they helped with a little bit of the wiring. One of them also told me to try jumping the positive terminal on the ignition coil to the battery itself and it ended up working flawlessly even my starter cranked instantly which usually takes a second or two to engage. Ofcourse then I went to go turn it off and it wouldn’t until I ripped the extra wire out. Not sure where or how I’m loosing power along the way but when I pulled the circular (I think 6-8pin) plug out from the external voltage regulator and tested the battery side the black with white line wire is only reading around 1.14v and that is also the same wire I have traveling up to my ballast resistor and is what I believe supplies the power to my coil. There is also the black with red stripe that I have attached to the positive terminal of the coil too. I checked the voltage right before and after the new fusible links I’ve put in and they are 12v so I’m not sure how I’m loosing over 11v. I have the Hanes book and have looked at the wiring diagram but I’m just not good with this electrical stuff. I will probably add some more in-depth stuff tomorrow kind of word vomited tonight however I'm beat right now and the snow starts Friday morning so I got 2 more days. 😭 *can add pictures if you think it’ll help.*

Update: So I got it running this week and I honestly don’t know how it fixed itself. When it was idling for those 10-15 seconds I just held the throttle open and sprayed starter fluid in there and kept it alive for about 30 seconds. Then when it died it sounded like it pre detonated and made a knock. Thinking I messed it up I went and started it again and it ran fine no problems with dying or anything. Idled at 3k but I let it warm up and then took it down to 800-1000rmp. The car was definitely running rough though so I decided to mess with the timing a bit and got it to where I think it’s supposed to be however now that I messed with that the car doesn't want to start anymore at all. It just turns over forever. I smell fuel so I don’t think it’s the same problem as it was before.

I am new to the carburetor club and am having some issues with starting my 1981 gl wagon. I've had it for a couple months now and haven't really had any issues with it running other than a weird sort of hiccup when I'm at a stoplight or in park and the car is fully warmed up. However last Saturday I replaced the sparkplugs and was looking at a few other things, so I removed the air cleaner and took off those 5 vacuum lines. After putting the new plugs in (which were the NGK gapped at .044 the old plugs were a range of .032 up to .038) I put everything back together and when I turned it on it idled fine no misfire, however it does idle a bit high around 1500 then it will slowly increase up to 2000 then just lose power and die. Even feathering the gas does not help it and seems to die regardless after about 10-15 seconds. I have also replaced the fuel filter on the car that same day but a little later after running into this problem but that did not help either.