Hi,

Thanks for all the previous help with various tasks...now I really feel stuck.

I replaced the main engine harness on my 1986 240 DL and now it won't start. It is acting as if my battery is low, although I just had it fully charged. I get a 12 volt reading on my voltmeter (I think it used to read about 14) when I turn the key to the intermediate position and it drops to nothing when I turn the key to start the engine...I've checked all the fuses and checked and re-checked all my connections...any ideas what could be causing this?



Thanks,
Steve
Eugene, Oregon

Thanks! I triple checked everything and looked closely at all the places suggested, it turns out Bob was right; it was simply a matter of moving the spade connector on the starter. Fired right up.

Once again saved by the Brickboard. I can honestly say that I never would have even attempted to change my Oil Separater, let alone decide that this was a good time to change the main harness without knowing this board is here and so very helpful. Really pretty amazing. I'll be sending in my contribution this week.

Thanks again everyone!

Steve
Eugene, Oregon

I agree. I've done things to my car that I never would have have attempted in the past knowing that I could get help from this board.
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Simon 1980 240 320k 19 years. 'White Lightning' 1986 240 (recently adopted)

How about the small terminal at the alternator? I have no idea what would happen but this is the only (or one of two) places to go wrong. Unlike lots of people apparently, I do not find it difficult to get the other harness plugs in the correct location, but the alternator small wire always poses a dilema for me. Good to have another brick as a reference in moments like this.

Check all the wires that the other answers recommend, it's easy to err on the water temp to gauge, and the anti-lnock sensor. Both are single wire, near each other. Yellow to the temp gauge - rearmost of the two.

Next - and this is likely it - check the starter connection. I did this, too.

You have two wires to the starter, but there are three termonals there. Ome is easy, it's the fat red wire from the battery.

The other wire can go to either of two spade lug terminals. Whichever one you have the wire on now, move it to the other one. One is the correct terminal, and I can never remember if it is the one nearest the block, or not. Just move it to the other.

The "wrong" terminal is to connect to a ballast resistor bypass, a system not used for years. But they left the specs for the starter unchanged.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I replaced my harness on my 86 recently. My no start was a result of hooking up the harness incorrectly. It's very easy to mix up the plugs near the distributor. I had three wrong!!! Once I got those in place it fired right up. I can't remember all the details but the plug with the blue tape goes to the throttle body. That got me started in the right direction. I'd verify this before you go changing anything as it is possible to do some damage with incorrect hook up.
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Simon 1980 240 320k 19 years. 'White Lightning' 1986 240 (recently adopted)

Either your battery is trashed. Or you have something hooked up wrong on the starter or alt. Have you tried jump start? What happen?
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