I got my 40 a few months back and have been taking my time getting it going. So far so good until tonight. I was having an issue getting it started but figured out that the PO installed the distributor, cap, and rotor 180 out. After fixing that and a little ether I attempted to start the engine a few times and adjusted the timing to have it fire up. I hit the right combo and it fired up but it lasted all of 2 seconds. Then it went completely dead. I went to restart it and got nothing. No dash lights, no gauges, nothing.
This is the current configuration.
It's a 74 Fj40 with an F motor which never ran for me until tonight. (I got it home by flat towing it.)
There is a GM 12SI alternator wired into it.
I recently finished wiring the 40 with a Painless #10107 wiring harness. Nothing remains of the old harness. The original voltage regulator is gone as well. I'm quite certain I installed the harness correctly since prior to tonight everything worked. It just wouldn't fire up as when I attempted to start it.
I checked the new battery and it currently is sitting and holding at 12.5 volts. Its sitting on my trickle charger and it indicates a good battery,
I checked all of my fuses and all of them are good.
I'm down to 3 possible culprits.
The 12SI alternator, the starter solenoid and the coil ballast resistor. I'm leaning towards a fried starter solenoid since my main battery cable runs to it. Is there a set method to test the stock solenoid?
I'm also scratching my head because of the internally regulated alternator.
I had suspicions regarding my coil ballast resistor. When I inspected it, I found it to be electrically open. Physically the resistor is broken in half under the ceramic heatsink.
Am I heading in the right path on this or has some evil gnome possessed my 40?
This is the current configuration.
It's a 74 Fj40 with an F motor which never ran for me until tonight. (I got it home by flat towing it.)
There is a GM 12SI alternator wired into it.
I recently finished wiring the 40 with a Painless #10107 wiring harness. Nothing remains of the old harness. The original voltage regulator is gone as well. I'm quite certain I installed the harness correctly since prior to tonight everything worked. It just wouldn't fire up as when I attempted to start it.
I checked the new battery and it currently is sitting and holding at 12.5 volts. Its sitting on my trickle charger and it indicates a good battery,
I checked all of my fuses and all of them are good.
I'm down to 3 possible culprits.
The 12SI alternator, the starter solenoid and the coil ballast resistor. I'm leaning towards a fried starter solenoid since my main battery cable runs to it. Is there a set method to test the stock solenoid?
I'm also scratching my head because of the internally regulated alternator.
I had suspicions regarding my coil ballast resistor. When I inspected it, I found it to be electrically open. Physically the resistor is broken in half under the ceramic heatsink.
Am I heading in the right path on this or has some evil gnome possessed my 40?
Last edited: