Tamaren

That sounds to me like what happened, but on a continous setup, So yeah. Going to go for that. Already ordered a wiring harness!

No matter what when I found those wires the first thing I did was order a new harness. Even if that wasn't the problem, It needed to get done. So I'm going to put it on, and see what that fixes.

Carl Fausett

Great picture of a typical early engine wiring harness in today's condition.

In your picture, I can see what looks to be melting and fusing of the wires near the top. As has been said, the yellow wire runs to the starter which will crank if it can get voltage from anywhere.

There are two opportunities for this with the engine off. The large red wire from the forward battery post is in that loom, and it is always hot. Then there is the alternator exciter wire, which is blue, but as it ages it turns green. I believe on the early cars it is always hot also.

Thank you for your order, we are making your new engine wiring harness right away today.

Mongo

Wow! Nice save! Clearly that harness needs some replacing. Good luck on your repair! I hear new harnesses make a night and day difference with the functioning of other systems in the car too.

Wisconsin Joe

Maybe it's just me, but why are you leaving the car in gear?

Neutral and parking brake is how I park mine, unless I'm on a fairly steep grade.

Tamaren

That's what I was thinking, glad i'm on the same page as you guys with this!
Thanks again for the quick replies and everything Carl.

Yes, it's bad habit because I grew up in Colorado. You never put the parking brake on because it would freeze in the winter and you'd never get it off. So I've always just put it in gear. If anything, this is a good event to teach me to not keep it in gear!

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm thinking since the car is down I might as well do some stuff like rebuild the steering rack.

Carl Fausett

I don't know if that's a bad habit. I was taught to always park a manual trans car with the trans in 1st or Reverse, and with the parking brake on as well. Just habit now...

Mark R.

A few years back there was a local news story about a guy who parked his car in gear and jumped out to run back in the house to get something.

One of his children accidentally bumped it out of gear and it rolled down his driveway, across the street, and into the front of his neighbor's house.

The kids survived but were injured pretty badly. The car was totaled and did lots of damage to the house.

---> Leave it in gear, or leave it out of gear, but ALWAYS set the parking brake...

-

Mark R.

^ This is how I've always parked all of mine (and taught my two sons the same). As you say, it's a habit.

But it makes me wonder what would have happened if this had been the case in Tamaren's situation.

Surely the starter would not have the leverage to overrun the parking brake (that seems very doubtful).

So I assume the energized, but stalled, starter attempting to turn would just blow a fuse..?

.

Alan

The exciter wire is ignition switched and is not capable of activating the starter. Usually the insulation on the main feed from the alternator stays in better shape than the smaller wires - but not always.

Alan

Alan

I wouldn't be at all surprised that the starter could easily overcome the parking brake. There is huge torque from the starter under ideal battery conditions. And unless you significantly crank the parking brake it doesn't hold that well on a slope. I don't park in gear unless I'm concerned about the parking brake holding (e.g. significant slope).

And - there is no fuse in the starter circuit... there never is. The only thing to blow here is the starter motor or the battery

Alan

hacker-pschorr

It depends on where you live / grew up. Around here nobody uses the parking brake, why? We've all had one freeze up in the middle of winter.

This is especially true for anyone driving VW/Audi's with the locking parking brake caliper. We actually remove the parking brake function on those cars since they can fail, locking up the caliper even if you don't use it.

Mark R.

Well then, I guess it's a good thing it's flat up there...

Tamaren

Just got done with my 30-minute test drive with the new wiring harness. Fixed the problem of not running and made the car a lot happier- gauges are much less sluggish as well. Thanks to Carl from 928 MS for quick turnaround on a new harness, great quality as always and the labels were a godsend.

Moral of the story, check your wiring harness.