Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical 12 volt conversion starter with left blinker

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jgress77, Apr 14, 2026 at 8:14 PM.

  1. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    Im doing a 12 volt conversion on a 1953 custom line flathead v8 i bought the kit from vintage auto garage. Ive hooked everything up how they show except now when I turn the key to start the starter will not kick over. If i turn the key to acc the blinkers work great but if I have the key off and the starter relay hooked up when I turn the left blinker on the starter engages and tries to start the motor... how do I fix this? The solenoid is ground activated. My key is the 4 stage off acc on and start
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2026 at 7:06 AM
  2. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 36,237

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm thinking that problem 1 is the freaking universal switch. Universal switches are Hot to the S post on the starter solenoid as in all of my 60 something years of working on cars I have never seen a universal ignition switch that went to ground on start. The kit uses a go to ground push ****on to trigger the solenod and not a key switch.
    Second you have some wires crossed and it is probably on that switch that they are crossed. View attachment 6693735

    I've spent the past half hour looking for a usable 53 Ford car wiring diagram on the net and the closest I came is the one shown here. What I suggest is spending probably the best headache saving 18.95 you will spend and buy the laminated wiring diagram from Cl***ic car wiring dot com. They are big enough to actually figure out and color coded plus they make pretty nice garage wall art. https://cl***iccarwiring.com/products/1952-1953-ford-cars-color-wiring-wiring-diagram Screenshot (3145).png Screenshot (3143).png upload_2026-4-14_19-23-30.png
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2026 at 9:25 PM
    5window and winduptoy like this.
  3. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,721

    Oneball
    Member

    Are you sure your solenoid should be ground activated?
     
  4. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    The key switch was already in the car not part of the kit. I also did not mess with the wires on the switch except for adding one wire to the acc prong to get 12 volts to a relay in the kit
     
  5. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    Im not sure i used the one in the kit they sent
     
  6. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,721

    Oneball
    Member

    Looking at their website their kits seem to have a Ford type solenoid. Big terminals one to battery one to starter motor. Small terminals S to 12v switched from starter switch. I ballast resistor 12v byp***. Ground is via the body of the solenoid.
     
  7. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,721

    Oneball
    Member

  8. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    The one they sent me is ground from ****on which I do not have a ****on... I can apply 12 volts from the battery and the solenoid wont click but if I touch ground from battery it does it wonder if they sent me the wrong solenoid. I have the rl13 id upload a Pic of it but I dont know how to do that
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2026 at 6:46 AM
  9. flat Ike
    Joined: Feb 21, 2026
    Posts: 25

    flat Ike
    Member
    from Wyoming

    If I was in your shoes I'd hook up one circuit at a time, get that circuit functioning then move to the next circuit. The starter circuit with ignition switch, alternator/generator would be my first priority.
     
  10. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    Everything is working properly except this... and the right blinker just comes on and doesnt blink. But I also have a bulb out that I havnt swaped to 12 volt bulb yet
     
  11. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,721

    Oneball
    Member

    I was looking at their 1953 -55 kits.
    You’re right, their up to 1953 kits come with a ground activated solenoid.

    Does the start position on your key go to ground or 12v
     
    winduptoy likes this.
  12. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    I believe it is now 12 volt since their kit goes from positive ground to negative ground.... I have to find my dang multi meter i had it in the shop on this car and I couldnt find it last night so I dont know if someone walked by and picked it up for some reason or if I just misplaced was planning on working on it tonight
     
  13. MMM1693
    Joined: Feb 8, 2009
    Posts: 1,677

    MMM1693
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I let my friends call me Sparky, and this is why I prefer Ron Francis
     
    5window likes this.
  14. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    What?
     
  15. flat Ike
    Joined: Feb 21, 2026
    Posts: 25

    flat Ike
    Member
    from Wyoming

    replace the right blinker bulb if burned out. From the schematic above, I'd pull the flasher fuse then try to start the car. No start then troubleshoot/verify the starter circuit wiring, leave flasher fuse out while doing this.
    Other ideas, verify you have the correct ignition switch. With the ignition switch off and using a multimeter on the ohm scale, verify the wiring to/from ignition switch is correct.
     
  16. Jgress77
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 10

    Jgress77

    Okay thanks... ill look into it. I almost think I have the wrong starter solenoid. And maybe with the key off the blinker is grounding the switch back through and cranking the starter? Im not sure
     
    flat Ike likes this.
  17. Onemansjunk
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 606

    Onemansjunk
    Member
    from Modesto,CA

    This could be used as an- anti theft- method. Turn signal, start ****on. Interesting.
     
    flat Ike likes this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.