[DeTomaso] starting problem

[Dennis Yogi]

Aloha guys!

Thanks for all of the emails of assistance.  I found the problem today, this
is another one for the books.  The starter solenoid has two big lugs for the
battery and power cable to the starter and also two small terminals.  One
terminal is the energizing wire from the ignition switch, the other had a
blue/black wire which I didn't know the origin or destination.  I had always
thought that the terminal was supposed to be unused but the wire seemed a
factory item so it never concerned me.

I disconnected that wire and the car started right up the way that its
supposed to.  Tracing the wire, I found that it went to the "-" pole of the
ignition coil!  The wire appears to be a factory wire with terminals and
boot cover which are time period correct.  It was wrapped into the wire
harness as are all factory wires.  I had always assumed that the blue/black
wire at the coil side was the tach feed and was surprised to find that it
went to the starter solenoid.  The tach feed wire on my car is a dark
brown.  Oh well, I guess that the wiring is all different on early cars.

So basically, the blue/black wire from the solenoid was feeding the "-" coil
terminal with 12 volts!  Go figure!  I had never been into that part of the
car so unless the previous owner did something, that's the way it came from
the factory.  The wire, terminals, boot and wrapping into the harness all
looked orignal 35 years old!

Thanks again for all of the offered assistance!

Dennis