What are these wires?

[ttodhunter]

Ok, so I suck at electrical. After a month and a half since I bought my 76, it's time to try and start it. I put in a new battery, clamps on terminals are pretty loose, I'll get new clamps. I tried to start it and just got a "click" from the starter. I looked down there, and there are two loose wires. See pic. The black one comes off of (what I believe to be) the solenoid and appears to be a simple ground. But then there's this yellow wire, coming out of a loom, that was positioned right near the loose black wire.

 

Does anyone know these two wires?

 

Please excuse my stupidity on the subject. I've got the Service Manual, but the starter section doesn't show wiring and the Circuit diagram is f'ing confusing.

 

Thanks!

[Megatherion]

I think the yellow one goes connected into the starter trigger terminal in the starter solenoid.

Remove the black one and connect the yellow one where the black wire is.

 

Terminal "S" if I'm not mistaking in this picture.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Megatherion

[Oddjob]

The item you think is the solenoid, is, in fact, the solenoid.

 

According to my '71-72 manual, there is only one connection to the solenoid (besides the battery cable), which is a black/yellow striped wire. It connects to the ignition switch, and goes live (+12V) with the ignition switch in "start" position. If you have an automatic transmission, this wire goes through a "park" interlock switch on the way from the ignition switch to the starter. There is no ground wire shown.

 

Your '76 should not be very different from the '71-72.

[NewZed]

I have a 76. I just looked. The yellow wire goes to the connector on the solenoid, where you have the black one. It should slide right on.

 

Can't tell you what the black wires go to. Follow it out, maybe it's your oil pressure sensor? One male, one female?

[ttodhunter]

Alright, thanks guys. Yellow wire on solenoid = working starter. Probably the easiest fix this car will see!