Rewired with Painless, not getting any spark • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **challyrtse** » 22 Apr 2006 19:36

I bought a Painless generic Muscle car 18 circuit wiring harness (before they made Mopar specific ones...) and am rewiring my '70 Challenger. I followed the instructions correctly, but I do not get any juice to the ballast resistor with the key in Run. In fact, I don't get any voltage at the Ignition terminal on my starter relay either. I just replaced the starter relay, ballast resistor, Neutral safety switch, coil, and upgraded to a Mopar electronic ignition.
Does any one have any experience with this type of Painless kit used in a Mopar? What could I be doing wrong?

by **dave-r** » 23 Apr 2006 10:08

The only way to work it out is to investigate the circuit. Instead of following their circuit try to think how it should work.

In "run" you should have a direct connection to the battery on one side of the resistor. The other side of the resistor goes to the coil.

In "start" the battery connects directly to the coil side of the resistor.

by **challyrtse** » 23 Apr 2006 18:07

I know you are right, Dave. Looks like I will have to try and figure out what the design guys at painless were thinking when they wrote the instructions, and make something work.
Golly, I love electrical problems...
I do have some generic questions about the starter relay. I pulled my old one apart and looked at it. I can see how the solenoid terminal gets power when taken to "start." I understand that the N safety switch puts a ground on the "ground" terminal. When does the "ignition" terminal get power? Mine never seems to; and if this is a normal indication, then what purpose does that terminal serve?
I know I'm needy, but I do appreciate the help!
Thanks.

by **71_DEPUTY** » 23 Apr 2006 18:29

ing power to the start relay only gets power when the key is all the way to the " start " postition the same as the brown wire that goes to the side of the ballast resistor and then to the coil.

the dark blue wire is powered when the ing. sw. is in the run postion which feeds power to the other side of the ballast resistor.

start relay is the small yellow wire..

these are the factory harness colors.

main ing sw. power feed is the red wire and the black wire is acc feed.

John Mac