Series 3 Smoke from Solenoid

Palagius · Dec 10, 2020

Just for reference, series land rovers and most british manufacturers of the period use the same colour cabling for the components,the info is online of all the componants and common feed/switch/part colours.
I found this invaluable when stumped with the patched and badly bodged spaghetti behind my dash,
Atb

OatMilkMan · Dec 12, 2020

rob1miles said:
I ended up replacing most of my wiring, each time I found a fault it was such a mess and had been altered so many times it was imposable to work out what was happening. It was quicker to cut the old wires out and run new. This also got rid of a lot of hidden connections that should never have been there but had been put in by previous owners. When ever I ran a new wire I ran a new earth along side it, this has made a huge difference to the number of faults.

Hey Rob, thanks for the reply - I think I might end up going down the same road if I'm honest!

Thanks again,

Scott

OatMilkMan · Dec 12, 2020

rynner said:
Just for reference, series land rovers and most british manufacturers of the period use the same colour cabling for the components,the info is online of all the componants and common feed/switch/part colours.
I found this invaluable when stumped with the patched and badly bodged spaghetti behind my dash,
Atb

Thanks again Rynner - I will give it a look online

OatMilkMan · Jan 27, 2021

Hello again,

Sorry for the silence, since I made this post I have been waiting on the cables arriving - which they did today!! Woo!

But looking at the new solenoid I have put the two old male spade connectors from the original onto the battery side but it looks like I have an extra male spade on the new solenoid (highlighted in photo).

Can I just ignore it?

Thanks,

Scott

TheMegaMan · Jan 27, 2021

OatMilkMan said:
Hello again,

Sorry for the silence, since I made this post I have been waiting on the cables arriving - which they did today!! Woo!

But looking at the new solenoid I have put the two old male spade connectors from the original onto the battery side but it looks like I have an extra male spade on the new solenoid (highlighted in photo).

Can I just ignore it?

Thanks,

Scott

I don't think so. no.

To check, the two spade terminals on the screw post are ones you've added from the old solenoid, right? I assume these are just being used as a convenient distribution point for permanent 12V supply to other accessories, right (probably brown wires)...

The two spade terminals on the solenoid body are the terminals for the actuator coil. One side needs to be connected to ground (black wire), and the other to the start supply from the key ignition switch - I think that should be a white/red wire. You will need to wire both terminals up, or the solenoid won't trigger when you turn the key.

OatMilkMan · Jan 27, 2021

TheMegaMan said:
I don't think so. no.

To check, the two spade terminals on the screw post are ones you've added from the old solenoid, right? I assume these are just being used as a convenient distribution point for permanent 12V supply to other accessories, right (probably brown wires)...

The two spade terminals on the solenoid body are the terminals for the actuator coil. One side needs to be connected to ground (black wire), and the other to the start supply from the key ignition switch - I think that should be a white/red wire. You will need to wire both terminals up, or the solenoid won't trigger when you turn the key.

You are absolutely correct Mega, I've attached a photo of the old wired solenoid. Browns from those male spades.

Okay so I think the old solenoid took the earth from being bolted on but for this one I will need to make a new earth and connect to that upper male spade?

That raises another question, does it need to be a specific size of wire used for the earth?

Thanks again!

Europa486 · Jan 27, 2021

The small spade connector is often a a 12 volt feed to the ignition coil that has a ballast resistor in its feed,
This is so when you are cranking the engine the 9 Volt coil is given 12 volts to give better starting,
When you release the key the starter and solinoid release and your 12 volt feed ceases,
Then your normal ignition circuit takes over,

TheMegaMan · Jan 27, 2021

OatMilkMan said:
Okay so I think the old solenoid took the earth from being bolted on but for this one I will need to make a new earth and connect to that upper male spade?

That raises another question, does it need to be a specific size of wire used for the earth?

Yeah, that all sounds likely. It doesn't matter which spade you use for the white/red wire and for the earth, so just use whichever terminal is most convenient/safest for each, ie. use the terminal closest to any chassis/body metalwork for the earth.

Size of wire isn't critical, as it's only used to energise the solenoid, not the earth for the starter motor, so it doesn't have to be particularly heavy. Choose a size similar to the white/red wire, although as it'll be only a short run, you can probably get away with something a little lighter if that's all you have.

TheMegaMan · Jan 27, 2021

Europa486 said:
The small spade connector is often a a 12 volt feed to the ignition coil that has a ballast resistor in its feed,
This is so when you are cranking the engine the 9 Volt coil is given 12 volts to give better starting,
When you release the key the starter and solinoid release and your 12 volt feed ceases,
Then your normal ignition circuit takes over,

If this is indeed what the other wire is for, then the spade terminal attached to the screw post needs to be connected to the starter motor side of the solenoid, not the wire that connects directly to the battery post. I note you said they were connected to 'battery side', above. If you connect it to the unswitched battery side, then you'll have a constant 12V to the coil, which will probably burn it out...not to mention not being able to turn the engine off!

OatMilkMan · Jan 29, 2021

Hey,

Thanks for all the help - I'm delighted to say that I'm back up and running

So I tried the new solenoid a few different ways but actually leaving that spare upper spade connector free seems to have done the trick and just connected the wires I had on the previous solenoid.

She turns over like a dream - i took a video but don't think I can upload sadly but turn of the key and she starts!

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to reply to my query - you all helped me get back on the road and I'm over the moon!

Scott

TheMegaMan · Jan 29, 2021

To clarify, you're only connected to one of the two spade terminals on the solenoid body? I'm at a loss to explain how that works, then... But pleased to hear it does.

Series 3 Smoke from Solenoid

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