Need real time electrical HELP (1 Viewer)

[dbarrett]

I am currently experiencing another electrical gremlin. Yesterday I was leaving the hardware store and my FJ40 died as I was rolling down the road. It just cut out and powered down. I will be trying to track down the issue today. Wanted to hear what some of you might think it is. Hopefully it will give me a good starting point and things to try to eliminate along the way. Things I have tried so far and to note:

Vehicle-1972 FJ40 running a transplanted 77 2F
No modifications to electrical system-stock with no lights or accessories
Original wiring harness
Engine is getting fuel.
12 volt constance (cig lighter, hazard lights, dash light) all work
Headlights and all marker lights work
Battery is good and charged.

Previous electrical issues:
Bad starter has been replaced
Bad alternator has been replace

So when I turn the key I get nothing-no clicks. It appears as though no power is getting to anything when I turn the key. With the key on, the wipers, heater/blower do not work.

Things I have done so far:
Bypassed the coil and ignition system and was able to turn the motor over. She will crank strong but not fire
Checked all fuses-everything appears in order and I will be cleaning the contacts
Currently tracking down grounds-did this a few months ago so all should be clean and tight
Had the coil tested-it has resistance and the circuit appears to be good
Pulled spark plug and cranked motor-no spark/juice getting to plugs

So mudders is it possible that the ignition switch has gone out? Would that cause the engine to just shut down? Is there a way to test the ignition switch? One other thing to note, the vehicle has been sitting for about 3 months without running. Thanks in advance for your help

 

[green71fj]

check power to coil,power to and from ignition switch, could also be battery cable to starter connection,thats what i would look at first

 

[marks69cruiser]

Although rare, you might be experiencing a poltergeist! MUHAHAHA! No seriously time to get the old multi-meter and start checking circuits. Even though the wires, fuses, and connectors etc may look good, sometimes a ham fisted mechanic or just plain wear and tear can cause issue's. Good luck.

 

[marks69cruiser]

I'm not sure if this applies to your set up but could be your points, and or condenser. Pop the distributor cap off and take a look to see if the points gap is correct.

 

[FJ40Jim]

So mudders is it possible that the ignition switch has gone out?
Would that cause the engine to just shut down?
Is there a way to test the ignition switch?

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

Sounds like you're on the right track.

 

[bsmith123]

starting running

Sounds like ignition sw related for sure. And sound like it could be no power into the switch or the switch itself

you can use a meter but in this case a light is probably good enough to do the trick

check power going into the switch as well as coming out of it--well you already know there is none coming out so you need to know if it is going in or you are losing it in the switch


when you bypass you might want to remove the wires from the switch and only run the wire from your battery straight there just in case the circuit is shorted---that could affect your bypass wire too as the power will go path of least resistance to ground.

 

[dargreg]

On the back of your ignition switch the Black with Red stripe should be hot all the time. With the switch turned on the Blue with Red stripe and Black with Yellow stripe become hot ,the other wire beside the Black with Red stipe becomes hot when you turn to the srart pos . Good luck

 

[bkfj40]

does it have fusible links? did one become disconnected? they should be right up by the battery connection.

I have had an ignition switch go bad on my 55 as well...

bk

 

[dbarrett]

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

Sounds like you're on the right track.

You suck...who's junk are you working on today...do you NEED another project???


Thanks everyone. I will run down the list here and let you know how it turns out.

 

[dbarrett]

check power to coil,power to and from ignition switch, could also be battery cable to starter connection,thats what i would look at first

Going to buy a meter now. Will see what it tells me.

 

[dbarrett]

I'm not sure if this applies to your set up but could be your points, and or condenser. Pop the distributor cap off and take a look to see if the points gap is correct.

Calling doctor JimC, calling doctor JimC. Can you recall way back when you adjusted my dis, what the gap was set at? I do not have any FSMs for the 77 2F

 

[dbarrett]

does it have fusible links? did one become disconnected? they should be right up by the battery connection.

I have had an ignition switch go bad on my 55 as well...

bk

Fusible link appears to be okay. Connection looked a little corroded. Will clean that up and see what it gets me.

 

[pjskibm]

How about corrosion around the battery terminals and cables? Sounds like a reasonable place to start.

 

[bsmith123]

quotable quotes

You suck...who's junk are you working on today...do you NEED another project???/quote]

Jeez, I hope you know jim and that was done in humor?

Pretty helpful guy who posts to give instead of ask for help, what he said sounded like a compliment to me

Sorry if I got that all wrong

 

[FJ40Jim]

Smith, you got it all wrong.

Barret is a local customer. I've fixed his mechanical junk. Now I gotta fix his electrical junk.

 

[dbarrett]

On the back of your ignition switch the Black with Red stripe should be hot all the time. With the switch turned on the Blue with Red stripe and Black with Yellow stripe become hot ,the other wire beside the Black with Red stipe becomes hot when you turn to the srart pos . Good luck

So finally got around to the ignition switch.

On the back of your ignition switch the Black with Red stripe should be hot all the time. Got nothin-not hot

With the switch turned on the Blue with Red stripe and Black with Yellow stripe become hot ,the other wire beside the Black with Red stipe becomes hot when you turn to the srart pos. Got nothin here either

As usual with electrical, more questions than answers. Obviously there is no power coming to the switch or going out of it. I will keep pluggin away. Going to pull the fuse block to see if something is happening on the back side that I can't see.

 

[dbarrett]

Smith, you got it all wrong.

Barret is a local customer. I've fixed his mechanical junk. Now I gotta fix his electrical junk.

JUNK! Wait what...

Now about this weekend, you coming into town for anything? I just got 1/25th of my usual bonus so I got money to spend baby Let me know and I can plan accordingly. I will keep pluggin away and maybe get lucky.

 

[bsmith123]

FIgures

Okay Jim, Figures

Sorry



I usually get it all wrong but I mean well!

 

[FJ40Jim]

JUNK! Wait what...

Now about this weekend, you coming into town for anything? I just got 1/25th of my usual bonus so I got money to spend baby Let me know and I can plan accordingly. I will keep pluggin away and maybe get lucky.

That is fine vintage junque.

Post up if it's still dead this weekend and I'll see about coming up.

 

[landcrusher909]

Why dont you try to hot wire it ?? just to get it running bypass all the ignition stuff and go stright from the battery to the coil crank her over and see if she starts, That way you can forget about the dist, coil, and all that then work your way back to the ignition switch.