Old vibration dampers/timing marks out of place
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 46
From: colorado springs, co
Old vibration dampers/timing marks out of place
If I owned a late fifties or early sixties car I would check the vibration damper pulley for slippage of the timing marks. Amazing how far off the timing marks can be.
I recently had some odd problems. Windows would quit working and the heater fan would quit. If I let it sit awhile everything would work again for a short time. Going to the wiring diagram for my 1961 Starfire I found the accessory lead at the ignition switch supplies power to the following: Cigar lighter-Air Conditioner-Heater Fan-Electric Antenna and Electric Windows.
I found the green accessory lead was burned at the connector on the IGNITION SWITCH !!! I went to my parts source and looked at four switches in four different cars before I found one that was not burned. They all had the same connector that looks as though it was not correct from the factory. The green lead (acc) looks as if it has the spring or pressure part of the fitting missing. Looks like it was never there . Top lead in the picture is correct, bottom is the bad fitting. The result is a loose connection that seems to work until it heats up and then opens. Let it cool awhile and it works again. The fuses never blow so its hard to find this goofy problem.
I replaced the plastic fitting and the accessory lead(green) with the correct end and all is well.
Look at the pics. Three out of the four switches I looked at had the same burned lead. Makes me wonder how many good cars were junked because of this problem.
Just thought sharing this info might help someone having any of the problems mentioned.
I'd like to hear from anyone that finds they have the same burned switch.
Dave
I recently had some odd problems. Windows would quit working and the heater fan would quit. If I let it sit awhile everything would work again for a short time. Going to the wiring diagram for my 1961 Starfire I found the accessory lead at the ignition switch supplies power to the following: Cigar lighter-Air Conditioner-Heater Fan-Electric Antenna and Electric Windows.
I found the green accessory lead was burned at the connector on the IGNITION SWITCH !!! I went to my parts source and looked at four switches in four different cars before I found one that was not burned. They all had the same connector that looks as though it was not correct from the factory. The green lead (acc) looks as if it has the spring or pressure part of the fitting missing. Looks like it was never there . Top lead in the picture is correct, bottom is the bad fitting. The result is a loose connection that seems to work until it heats up and then opens. Let it cool awhile and it works again. The fuses never blow so its hard to find this goofy problem.
I replaced the plastic fitting and the accessory lead(green) with the correct end and all is well.
Look at the pics. Three out of the four switches I looked at had the same burned lead. Makes me wonder how many good cars were junked because of this problem.
Just thought sharing this info might help someone having any of the problems mentioned.
I'd like to hear from anyone that finds they have the same burned switch.
Dave
Last edited by dlh61olds; Dec 14, 2014 at 03:40 PM. Reason: attachments
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
Yeah that is a bad terminal
any evidence of a break like the tang used to be there?
That melted plastic is almost a fire, by the way...
Replace the terminal[s] or clean the dirty but OK ones. New plastic block if possible.
Use dielectric grease to ward off oxidation
any evidence of a break like the tang used to be there?
That melted plastic is almost a fire, by the way...
Replace the terminal[s] or clean the dirty but OK ones. New plastic block if possible.
Use dielectric grease to ward off oxidation
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 46
From: colorado springs, co
The terminal looks as though it was made that way.
The other four cars had the same terminal.
Looks as though the harness was made with a poor quality terminal,
That's 's why I recommend if you have one of these cars a good look at the ignition switch may save you some headaches down the road>
Dave
The other four cars had the same terminal.
Looks as though the harness was made with a poor quality terminal,
That's 's why I recommend if you have one of these cars a good look at the ignition switch may save you some headaches down the road>
Dave
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