Its alive!!

A little story before questions,

I spent all day Saturday with a friend working on completing my dash wiring. Ordered all new gauges from 4wd.com, bought a used Sony CD player and 2 new polk audio all weather speakers. My bud and I worked to ensure grounds were clean and all connections were tight and shrink wrapped. Finally got all tied together, installed battery that had been charging for 3 days, turned key ......... and.........................................................
NOTHING!! HOLY CRAP!!
I realized that we had one wire in wrong place so today (Sunday) I moved the wire and tried again nothing... no lights no sound no engine nothing..... I was DEFEATED AT THE LEAST!
Took my battery to the parts store this afternoon and it was no good so I purchased my new one installed and PRESTO!! I finally heard my engine turn for the first time in 2 YEARS!!! My wife heard me hooping and hollering from inside the house!! ( I know the guys/gals who have rebuilt a jeep will understand my excitement. My wife and the 30 other people I called just didn't seem as excited.)

NOW....
I do not have fluids in engine so I quit with the engine and just fiddled with light switch. I have all lights and side markers, and hi/low switch works, HOWEVER, I have no turn signals and my oil pressure gauge pegs to the right???
When I turned my key to the off position my engine continued to turn over and I had to pull the positive cable off the battery to stop it. Is this something with my selenoid or my ignition switch??
Even with these problems I will go to sleep tonight with a HUGE grin, just knowing i made the lights work (kindof)!!!!!!

 

Oh and one more thing.... my passenger side turn/park signal is dimmer than all of the others???? Is this an issue with the ground?

 

Is you're engine stille turning, you have a positive wire that goes directly to the distributor...find wich one you fin youre problem...

And for youre dim light realy sound like a groud issue

 

I understand the excitement.... I too made the lights turn on for the 1st time last September.... it had been 9 years since they last turned on.... I tried the starter, but it had went bad.... I haven't had a chance to work on it since.... (it is in Arkansas and I am in Alabama).... but I still am excited when I look at the photo's....

 

I will trace my tonight if possible to see if I can locate a constant power going to the distributor. Any idea why my oil pressure gauge would peg on 80 ? I must have a wire on the back incorrect, best I understand it has a ground, gauge power, and from sensor??

 

Hum don't know check you're wire...but for pressure gage you better go to mechanical one...it's way better...you could do the same for the temp too.

My 2 cents

 

Are you using the original Motorcraft alternator (external voltage regulator) or a Delco alternator (internal voltage regulator)? It sounds to me like you have engine "run-on", which occurs in some jeeps when using the Delco style alternator. If this is the case, you will need to install a diode (Radio shack PN#276-1144 if memory serves me correct) in the "exict" wire (smaller of the two wires that plug into the alternator). This is a very easy install, I did this when I changed from the Motorcraft style to the Delco style alternator. That should eliminate the engine contuing to run after you turn the key off.
Concerning you dim light, I would agree with the previously stated and double check the ground.

 

I think it may be my selenoid.

 

Oh, I miss understood your original issue. So, let me make sure I understand you correctly; when you turned the key to the off position your engine was not already running, you were just turning the engine over and when you turned the key off it continued to turn over...not continue to run?

 

That is correct. Then engine never started, it was just turning over. I did not want it to start I was just testing my wiring to see if the ignition switch worked. It worked to well when I turned it back to the off position the starter and engine continued to turn so I had to remove the hot wire from my battery, now whenever I reconnect the hot the engine starts to try and crank. I have not had time since sunday to "tap" on the selenoid to see if somehow it has gotten stuck. The selenoid is brand new but I guess it could become stuck like any other.

 

low voltage could burn the contacts in the solenoid and cause sticking,you said the battery was bad check that and check the feed to the start side of solenoid (the one coming from the key)

 

Your original oil press gauge was a three wire connection. power-sender-ground. Some other gauges are two wire. Power and sender. The ground is supplied by it's mounting case. 4wd.com sells at least 3 diff manufacturer type gauges so I have no way of knowing if you have the 3 wire or two. A test light on the wiring problem is your friend. The wiring you were doing on your dash was for the new gauges and the CD correct? Was the original wiring working prior to this upgrade?

 

Yes the wiring on the dash as well as remainder of the rest of jeep is brand new. The gauge is a 3 wire. I installed new head light switch, wiper switch, speedo cluster, oil pressure gauge, volt meter, brake light switch, backup switch, cd player and 2 5.25 speakers, turn signal assembly. The original wiring was almost non-existent. When I received the jeep it had a fuel gauge and I oil pressure mechanical and head lights nothing else. I think I will try and UNstick my selenoid with some tapping and then get my volt meter on the dash on Thursday afternoon. I will definitly let you guys know what I come up with. So far I am just super excited that all of the lights work. This is my first ever rebuild project.

 

Where in Georgia are you? We have a few Georgia members and one may be near you just in case you get into a real bind. If you remove the wire at the solenoid (usually labeled "S") the starter should not be active.

 

It was my selenoid. I tapped it with a screw driver and it seems fine. Now i juzt have to figure out the oil pressure gauge and turn signal. The gauge is reading like a volt meter it registers even though engine is n
ot running. Also where on the ignition did you guys hook your volt meter?