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MK2 Sprite ignition switch

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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I made a valiant effort to get the Sprite on the road today but no joy in mudville.

After assembling and installing the dash I put the key in and turned. The Facet fuel pump started clicking, but turning to thr right to start produces nothing.

Looking at the back of the switch I see there are two connectors with no wires attached. I assume I have pulled some loose and I don't know where to start as it is a big mess under there.

Any ideas? Help?
 
The wiring diagram for my Mk2 Sprite shows two white wires connected to one terminal and two brown/blue wires connected to the other terminal. My ignition switch, however, is a little different from yours. Mine has push on connectors. There are three of them. One has a pair of white wires in a single push-on connector and the other two each have a single brown/blue wire pushed onto them. I bought my Sprite in January of 62 so maybe yours is newer than mine or else a PO changed the switch. HTH
 
I saw a pair of white wires on one lug and at least one brown/blue.
Maybe my problem isn't at the switch?
So - jumpering what wire to what should engage the starter?
 
So this isn't a cable pull starter? On my MkII..turn the key, then pull the "S" cable! I don't know when they went to the electric solenoid.
 
can you start it on the solenoid? this will tell you instantly whether the switch is the problem.

I'm going to guess something simple - like the wires to the coil
 
Not a cable pull, it's a 1964 if that helps.
It's got a keyed ignition switch.

Power comes on when turned one click to the right, nothing happens when turned to the second (spring loaded) position. This worked before I pulled out the dash.

JP - I haven't had the car very long so I don't even know where the solonoid is. I am used to seeing them on the side of the starter but it isn't there on this one so it must be a separate thing somewhere in the bay.
 
Rick - should be on front of the battery tray, in front of the heater core - pass side if original. That is where the old mechanical one was and I think they left it in the same place when they switched to electrical.
Should be able to trace the cable back from the starter if the solenoid is not on the battery shelf..
 
Thanks Devin, there is a box located there so I'll take a look tonight.




Here's the difference (one of many...) between being 50 and being 25:

When I was 25 I would have put a light source under the dash and kept working after it got dark.

Now that I'm 50 and noticed sunset happening outside I hung it all up and went in the house.

I don't know if that's a good thing or not, it just is what it is.
 
RickB said:
Not a cable pull, it's a 1964 if that helps.
It's got a keyed ignition switch.



JP - I haven't had the car very long so I don't even know where the solonoid is. I am used to seeing them on the side of the starter but it isn't there on this one so it must be a separate thing somewhere in the bay.
Click to expand...

as mentioned - it should be bolted to the front edge of the battery tray. there should be two bolts sticking out, one of which has the thick cable to the starter and the other of which has the cable to the battery. If you short those two bolts (I use the shank of a big screwdriver) the car should start
 
Thanks JP, that's what I have on my 78.
This one is a lot different, a Bugeye engine and who knows what to go with it. Time to get out there and look it over again!

Yes, pics would be nice!
 
Found it, wire to solenoid was bad.
A very long time ago the PO put some masking tape around some of the wires and labeled them. The bundle marked "ignition" had 4 wires, one of which was disconnected and broken.
Going out to repair it now! :wink:
 
woo hoo - I like easy fixes
 
The solenoid was found on the inner fender well, passenger side.

What a thing it is to hurry up and get a car on the road when you were planning on taking your sweet time. I guess I now have yet another 'rolling project'.
:wink:
 
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