Starter Motor wiring question

[Martin Hay-Plumb]

i think I must be getting tired - I cant work this one out and it should be really simple

 

This is my first Caterham build so any help appreciated.

 

Connecting up the starter and there are only two connections I can see - both on the on the back of the starter motor solenoid - one is a larger diameter connection thanthe other and I have four wires. A red battery lead a thin red wire into the loom, a thick brown wite into the loom and a thick brown wire to the alternator.

 

I am quoting:

 

"36. connect the red lead from the starter motor to the battery. Also connect the black lead on the main vehicle loom to the starter motor on the same terminal."

 

"37 Connect the brown lead from the alternator to the starter"

 

" 38. Connectc the brown /red wire from the chassis loom to the starter solenoid"

 

So 36 seems straight forward (except my thick loom wire is brown)

 

step 37 Er...so which termninal does this go to - I think it must be to the same one again as I have already connected at step 36 - so three wires go to this connection

 

38 - This I assume must go back to the ignition key circuit and so should go on the smaller connection ?

 

Does this sound right to anyone?

 

Back to the garage.....

 

 

 

 

Any car which holds together for a whole race is too heavy....

[Martin Erhard]

Martin, no one’s come to your rescue yet, the experts must all be down the pub so I’ll have go – I’ve been in that area resoldering my solenoid today and have been asking the same questions recently.

 

Mine is an earlier car so will differ slightly. My solenoid has three screw terminals, I think you will have two terminals and a spade connection as well.

 

The large terminal is also used as a connection point to the battery for the alternator, the thicker wire, and two thinner which feed the loom. On my car these are a thick brown and two smaller brown wires respectively. So the main red battery cable and three others all go to the same large terminal.

 

The opposite terminal goes to into the motor itself – a thick braided cable on mine.

 

This leaves the spade connection for the connection to the ignition switch side of things to activate the solenoid.

 

Hope this is of some help.

 

[Peter Carmichael]

The big connector is...

 

... battery ... alternator ... main supply to vehicle loom

 

 

The small connector...

 

... just actuates the starter and comes from the starter relay and has only one connection on it. DOn't know which of yours it will be. It won't go directly to the ignition circuit, because it is usually actuated via a relay.

 

Edited by - Peter Carmichael on 10 Nov 2007 23:54:58

[Martin Hay-Plumb]

Thx - there are actually three just as you said Peter, one of which has a braided connection onto it, so it all make sense now I think.

 

I guess I will knw for sure when I come to start it up for the first time....

 

 

Any car which holds together for a whole race is too heavy....