2nd Wire from + side of Coil???

[COBALT]

I know I've asked this before, but I don't remember the answer, and now the problem is in my face...

Question: what is the thin yellow wire for that runs from the + side of the coil? Mine seems to run down near the starter or transmission, and then it's disconnected. It's been that way since I bought the truck. It looks like 14-16 gage wire.

[chewed 71'er]

It goes on one of the two smaller terminals on the starter solenoid. I believe it bypasses the ignition coil ballast resistor for a hotter spark on starting. Once the solenoid releases (engine running), voltage runs through the ballast for normal engine operation. Both terminals (smaller) on starter solenoid are 'S' and 'R', can't remember which is which.

[Super Chevy]

chewed 71'er Is correct, The yellow wire coming from the starter gives a full 12volts on starting for easier starts ,usually with points while running you should only have 8 volts going to them...

[COBALT]

But which terminal on the starter does it connect to? That's where I need to reconnect it!

Starter has three connections:

1. The side which goes to the coil (+)
2. The large ground in the center.
3. The other side (??) which goes...somewhere.

Pick one.

[JIMs70GMC]

Yellow goes to the "R" and the purple goes to the "S". The purple is for engaging the starter when the ign. switch is in start position.

[COBALT]

So basically the red wire (for me anyway) and the yellow one BOTH go to the "R" side of the starter and run parallel to the + side of the coil? Two wires running from the same terminal on the starter directly to the same side of the coil? And this is to ensure correct voltage to the coil, huh? Interesting considering the main lead from the starter to the + side of the coil is a 12 gage wire, and this yellow one is dinky. I also assumed that it would lead somewhere else on the starter.

[Zkast]

Are you running a HEI unit? If so disregard the yellow wire, Its left over from the old external coil/points system.

[oldiron]

New69owner,
The original yellow wire went from the farthest terminial from the engine on the solenoid to the + side of the coil. It sounds like someone replaced it with a heavier gauge wire.
Do you have a volt meter?
If you do have someone crank the engine over and check the voltage on the + side of the coil. It should be 12 volts. If you do not have any voltage at all then you should check the voltage on the solenoid on the farthest terminial from the engine. It should be 12 volts when some one is cranking it for you. If you have 12 volts then your wire is bad and should be replaced.
If you have any other fun call me Sunday morning I will be home.

[Longhorn Man]

If your red (supposed to be purple) wire is on the R teminal, then it needs rewired, and if i remember correctly, it shouldn't be working.

[COBALT]

Ok, we're cruising into confusion territory, so I'll clarify now that I have my truck running and everthing's cool. I have single points ignition system with standard external resister coil:

1. The purple wire goes from the circuit controlled by the key-driven ignition switch. That goes to the terminal on the starter solenoid CLOSEST to the engine (12 gage).

2. The red wire (or at least what I have) which supplies power to the coil at ignition starts at the terminal on the starter solenoid FARTHEST from the engine and runs to the + side of the coil (12 gage).

Now here's where the yellow wire comes in...

3. There's a yellow wire that also connects to the + side of the coil along with the red wire. I assume that this supplies current to the coil when the engine is running and the starter is no longer engaged. It's part of the front wiring harness, and is approx. 16-18 gage. It's smaller than I initially estimated. It looks original.

The yellow wire can't simply go to the starter, unless the starter provides an interruptable 12 volts after the starter is no longer used. It has to come from the voltage regulator somewhere between the battery and the alternator where there's a constant power source because the engine wouldn't get the power it needs to keep ignition going via the coil.

Also, the "broken yellow wire" I found that simply dangles down next to the starter is not the same wire as the one we're talking about. I thought it was because it looks exactly the same, and looks like it comes out of the same harness. It must be a disconnected wire to another circuit, which I'll have to trace.

[Longhorn Man]

OK, I was confused.
But here is how it is supposed to be...that is not wired right.
There is supposed to be a wire from your under hood harness, coming from the fuse box...it is a white cloth covered wire. That is the one your engine is supposed to run off of. It is a resisted wire.
The yellow wire, is supposed to piggy back the white cloth one on the coil, and go down to the starter, where your red one is.
The red one is a mystery wire installed by a previouse owner.

[COBALT]

OK, here's my bservations based on what was just said:

1. The yellow wire you're talking about that is supposed to go to the starter (the FARTHEST post away from the engine) for my case is actually a red one.

2. The white cloth covered wire that is suppose to provide power to the coil under normal operating conditions is for my case is a yellow one.

Question:

What is the color of the wire under the white cloth cover supposed to be??? I could just be missing the cover!!!

(I feel like we're playing "Clue").

[Longhorn Man]

If memory serves (there's a scarey thought) I think it is supposed to be black.
But it is not just a wire, but a resister wire.

[COBALT]

D'oh. Well it's definitely not either of those things...time to look at the wiring diagrams for the front harness. I hate hacked-together wiring.