Engine Compartment Wiring Help Needed

[1967AceStroker]

I need some wiring help for the harness in the engine compartment. I have a 71 F250 CS. I had the front wrap pulled from a junkyard, and ended up getting the rest of the truck for the cab later on. And I'm ready to wire it to start at this point. When the junkyard pulled the front wrap, I think they just cut all the wires. So, my problem is I need to figure out what wires are what. Mainly on the passenger side by the battery. I have it somewhat figured out at this point. I think I have the alternator, voltage regulator, starter solenoid mostly figured out. I've viewed all the wire diagrams on the site, diagrams off Google, Chilton and Haynes manuals I could get a hold of were no help. No diagram I viewed was what I had exactly, I have more, or less wires on certain parts of the harness, and some are different colors from what the diagrams say.

I think I have it close, and I have everything hooked up. My problem is that when I turn the key in the ignition, it turns the motor over in the "on" and "start" positions. And the starter is staying on even if you turn the key to the "on, off, or accessory" positions. I have to pull the hot battery cable off to make it stop cranking over.

I'm not sure what to change to correct for this. I have everything wired close as I can get with what I have and know. It seems like its something minimal, but I don't know what to change. Any guesses, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Josh

[fordman]

it should be a color matching thing if they cut the wires. the two small wires coming from the solenoid are red and brown. the red goes to the frotn terminal on the solenoid and the brown goes to the back on. the brown one ends up at the center fo the coil to suply 12 volts to the coil at start up. the red one goes to the ignition switch. the rest fo the wires going to and from the passeneger side of the firewall ar goign to be for the headlights turn signals and alterntor as well as main power into the truck. to the iginition switch and fuse box.

it shoulds like the switch plug wires are in the wrong places. did you do and changes to that? was it cut off?

where di d they cut the wires off at? what year was the donor truck and did it have dummy lights or gauges in the dash?

[1967AceStroker]

I tried switching the two plug on wires on the front of the solenoid (brown, red/blue). One way, the starter engages and stays on(sometimes) when the key is in the "on" position. If I switch them, nothing happens at all.

Had dummy light in the instrument panel. They cut the all the alternator wires midway between the inner fender and alternator, and there are a few wires around the solenoid that have no been cut/broke?, but do not seem to have another wire of the same size, color, purpose around them. Voltage regulator wires differ from diagrams. Also there are some wires that are not on the diagrams that are left when I hook up all the required ones shown in the diagrams.

I will hopefully get this fixed tomorrow. I have a buddy coming over to take a look at it, who specializes in this kind of stuff. I think he will get it. Then maybe I can start it.

[fordman]

you have to look at multiple diagrams to get the correct diagram on some of the dummy light or even the gauge clusters. on the diagrams the instrument cluster will show bulbs in the cluster or it will show gauges. follow which ever diagram you have the wiring or cluster for. they wont mix and match very well. it can be done but it is harder to do.

keep the solenoid wires where they work at.

[1967AceStroker]

I used a diagram which was supposed to be for a 71, and it was the closest one to what I had. I'm thinking its probably just one, or two ignition wires are mixed up. I'm not gonna mess with em so I don't mess anything up. I'll just let my friend figure it out, it's what he does.

[1967AceStroker]

Got the problem narrowed down, but I don't know why its happening, or how to fix it.

The brown wire that plugs on the solenoid goes hot when the key is in the "on" position. It should only be hot when in the "start" position. I replace the ignition switch also.

Any ideas?

[ccryder2011]

sounds like its crossed at the ignition switch...or maybe the switch is bad

[1967AceStroker]

Followed some diagrams and got and messed with the arrangement of the ignition switch wires. Got it to work. I switched the brown and the blue/red wire on the ignition switch and it works, I don't understand why I couldn't achieve the same outcome by switching the two on the solenoid. Maybe its something to do with how they run in the harness. Oh well, I got it now. Thanks for the ideas guys.

And @ ccryder201, I see what you did there... post icon.

[fordman]

it didnt work on the solenoid because those wires dont go directly to the ignition switch. the brown one goes to the coil . and the red one goes to the iginition switch. the brown one actually goes inside the firewall and merges with the coil wire. then out of the firewall you just see the coil wire only. whatever color it is. the brown on the switch isnt the same brown one on the solenoid. i would have to look at the diagrams to say which exact wire it is.

[ccryder2011]

glad i could help...had the same issue...my truck would start and then just die when the ignition switch returned to yhe run posistion...any way good luck with your bump...