!! Sparks !!

[spdway1]

When I attempt to start my AA, the foot pedal rod sparks really bad on the hole where it goes threw the firewall.

What do I need to do to correct this?

Thank you

[nhusa]

Only if you plan on pouring gasoline on the floor

[jmeckel]

It also could be you have a poor ground. Start with cleaning the ground connections, also use a jumper cable and run it from the battery ground to the starter bolts or any place on the engine you can get to that you can get a good solid clamp on. If this fixes the issue than you need to go through all the frame to engine to body ground points and clean them up, including engine pans. Another option is to run a #2 or larger soft copper cable from the engine (I attached to one of the starter to engine mounting bolts) to the battery ground cable to frame bolt. Again make sure there is no rust, paint, dirt..... etc. at the connection points and that they are tight.

[Mitch//pa]

agree with #3 # 4 's advice

[PC/SR]

There is a short circuit, probably the switch insulator per #3, but do #4 too for good maintenance, plus check the "hot" battery cable to the starter while you are at it to be sure it is not touching anything.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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On this subject: Who supplies the BEST repro starter switch, or are they all from the same source? Bill W.

[Jim Brierley]

Do the above, then slip a short piece of fuel hose over the stem of the rod.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

Do the above, then slip a short piece of fuel hose over the stem of the rod.

Sounds like a good idea. That will move the problem to the choke rod will it will not be as annoying. On the other hand, maybe you could fix the problem before it causes a disaster (if it is a short in the switch). I vote for the ground being the problem.

Charlie Stephens

[1931 flamingo]

Is there not supposed to be a grommet around the rod where it passes thru the firewall/floorboard??
Paul in CT

[Ross/Kzoo]

On important electrical connections like battery and starter I like to use Alnox.

http://www.aflglobal.com/Products/Co...-Compound.aspx

If I were to describe it I would say that it's greasy with small metal shavings in it.

[Purdy Swoft]

There should be a bakelite or rubber starter switch rod grommet in the firewall.

[spdway1]

I put some wraps of Duct tape on the pedal shaft for now. I will change the switch out too.
This is another AA project new to me.

[tbirdtbird]

can someone enlighten me as to the point of post #2

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

can someone enlighten me as to the point of post #2

I was wondering the same thing? By checking the edit time in #1 I guess something got removed.

[nhusa]

Me too. When I reread #1 - #2 did not make sense, but then I remembered that post #1 originally said something about it was sparking and should he do something about it.

The question as originally stated was rediculous so I figured that it was a spoof and answered with the gasoline comment.
If I had said -of course you need to fix it - it still would not make sense because the question was changed to what should I do

[CountrySquire55]

Might be that the starter rod has come loose from the shaft that connects it to the starter switch. The nut on the rod, on my car anyway, sometimes vibrates loose and allows the rod to turn out of the shaft. If this happens, and the starter button is pressed, the rod can come in contact directly with the switch connections on the starter itself and cause the sparking.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by spdway1

I put some wraps of Duct tape on the pedal shaft for now. I will change the switch out too.
This is another AA project new to me.

Just make sure there are no wrinkles in the tape. The number of wrinkles determine the quality of the repair.

[Keith True]

Insulation really isn't the answer.There should be NO juice in that rod,at any time.You have something wrong in the switch,and at some point,things will be melting.There was a fiber plunger in the switch,that is either damaged or has been replaced with a wrong material.

[Tom Wesenberg]

My first thought was exactly the same as Keith's, but then when someone mentioned a poor ground, that also is possible. One end of the rod touches the switch housing and the other end touches the firewall, so if the starter has a poor ground then when the starter demands 100 amps sparks could fly from the rod where it touches the firewall, and provides another ground path.

To check for a poor electrical path just connect the meter leads to the points in question and see if any voltage is shown. 0 volts would mean you have a good connection. So, connect one meter lead (-) to the starter switch housing and the other meter lead (+) to the firewall, then push the starter switch and hope to read 0 volts. Set the meter on the lowest DC volts setting.

It's also easy to remove the switch and inspect the two insulating parts inside that Keith mentioned. I often find the thick t part at the end of the rod is worn and can short.

[Purdy Swoft]

I agree with jmeckle and Tom. Not trying to be disagreeable but poor ground will cause this problem and it will only happen when the starter is in use. I never was much into test meters. I like the way that jmeckle describes how to test the problem in post number 4. Some don't have test meters.

I think that the guy in post number 2 meant that if there was gas in the floor that sparks from the starter switch rod could cause a fire. Its not likely that anybody would pour gasoline in the floor unless it was accidently.

[spdway1]

Originally Posted by nhusa

Me too. When I reread #1 - #2 did not make sense, but then I remembered that post #1 originally said something about it was sparking and should he do something about it.

The question as originally stated was rediculous so I figured that it was a spoof and answered with the gasoline comment.
If I had said -of course you need to fix it - it still would not make sense because the question was changed to what should I do

Thanks for your help.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Well, if I had the helper in your avitar, sparks would be flying in my car too.

[ctvpa]

Call Craig.

[spdway1]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Well, if I had the helper in your avitar, sparks would be flying in my car too.

I do!! Her diaper was filled after the Backfire !!KAPOW!!

[spdway1]

Here is what my starter switch looks like. The is green flaky corrosion under the battery cable stud as you can see and directly under this on the starter. There also seems to be a real close tolerance between the stud and the starter. Thoughts/Suggestions? Thank you.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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The stud doesn't need much clearance, and from what I see your's looks OK. I would remove the stud and strap and clean them. Also make sure the strap springs back all the way and make sure the insulation board is in good shape. It should spring back enough to keep the push rod from having freeplay.

[spdway1]

I am confused why the starter rod was sparking, should this rod have negative in it or should it be insulated?

[jmeckel]

If the body of the car to battery is a better return path to the battery under a high current drain scenario like when the starter is running, than the engine to battery path, then if the starter rod touches the body it may spark and try to pull a return path back to the battery that way.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by spdway1

When I attempt to start my AA, the foot pedal rod sparks really bad on the hole where it goes threw the firewall.

What do I need to do to correct this?

Thank you

The part that pushes the copper strip on to the "button" of the started normally has an insulator on it. seems like yours is missing.