Electrical QUESTION

[Gtdoerinh]

Hello all!

I inherited my grandpas 78 CJ5 AMC 304 V8. I am in the process of fixing it up and have run into a snag. In my efforts to get the instruments back lights and tachometer working I seem to have messed up the wiring to the ignition coil. The jeep will start but then immediately dies.

The fun part is he was an electrician and instead of an ignition switch it has a kill switch and push button to start. Electrical is REALLY not my strong suit but I would love some tips on how I can get it running again.

The tachometer is still not reading so I’m unsure if this is connected to the issue or not.

 

[CJ]

:we:
1st test is to keep it running. The starter solenoid seams to functioning correctly as its feeding a full +12v to the coil and bypassing the ballast resistor when starting. To check this just feed +12v before the ballast and be sure it stays running.
Now for your crazy wiring. Your going to need a test light or preferably a meter. Do you have any of these to start diagnosing your issue?

 

[Turbogus]

A common failure point in the electrical is oxidized/corroded grounds. So if you have instrument or light failures this is the first thing to check. In my '78 CJ5 'Black Betty' I grafted in a grounding bus bar I tore out of a switch panel. I ran 6 gauge wire from it to my battery, then ran ALL of my grounds to it. Following that everything electrically came to life.

 

[Gtdoerinh]

:we:
1st test is to keep it running. The starter solenoid seams to functioning correctly as its feeding a full +12v to the coil and bypassing the ballast resistor when starting. To check this just feed +12v before the ballast and be sure it stays running.
Now for your crazy wiring. Your going to need a test light or preferably a meter. Do you have any of these to start diagnosing your issue?

Can you explain where you would run the jumper from to feed the coil and keep it running after start?

I do have a meter yes.

 

[CJ]

For best test results run it from the battery.

 

[Gtdoerinh]

With the jumper attached it will run and stay running.

 

[CJ]

With the jumper attached it will run and stay running.

Definitely the crazy PO installed kill switch / ignition installation. Your just going to have to trace how it is wired to track it down.