[Jonesie]

OK, I just pulled and replaced the starter in my 81 CJ5. I thought I paid attention when disconnection the wires, but apparently not...

I hooked the RED wire to the larger post on the Starter, and the green wire to the smaller post on the starter, closer to the starter motor (there are two smaller posts).

Once everything was buttoned up, I noticed that the other end of my negative battery cable was not connected to anything. Thinking it just needed to be grounded to the frame, and that I didn't notice it when I removed the starter, I attached it to one of the bolts that holds the starter on.

Well, when I tried to connect the NEG battery cable to the battery, it popped and sparked at me. Guess I was wrong about the negative battery cable.

So, where is the NEG battery cable supposed to bolt on? Can it go anywhere on the frame, just not touching the starter?

For some reason, it seems like I pulled two wires off the larger post on the starter, but it doesn't seem like you would have both the RED and the BLACK cable going to the same post. I could be wrong though.

I looked at a few different wiring diagrams, then they simply show the negative cable going to ground, but don't elaborate.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks - Jonesie

[squidman]

i just attached to bolt on the bell housing no problems

[Fjguercio]

You need to tell the engine and what you are working on, do not make us guess, and you will get better answers. Your profile needs to be completed also. So I am going to GUESS you have a 258 and treat it like that.

The neg battery usually goes to the ground, there is a ground stud location behind the alternator and under the fuel pump on the 258. You were silent on engine.

Aux ground can also be added. Behind the coil twords the fire wall is a blank threaded hole. I used this to run another battery ground, a ground to the coil mount threaded bolt, to ground head for better ignition, and ground wire to the firewall. ON the Igntion Modual the Ford DuraSpark on the drivers fender cut the black wire on the connector/harness side and solder / heatshrink a ground wire to the firewall to help the ignition. These are all 10 awg black. From same location I also run a 4 awg to the frame and starter mounting bolt on bell housing. this just gives better ground to all the improtant stuff.

From the ground/battery neg to the hole/threaded under the fuel pump. I also add a 10 awg black wire there and run to the alternator body and the grill. This furhter help grounding.

The batter positive goes to the soleniod. The black can on the passenger fender. It usually goes on the firewall side. The Soleniod exit is on the radiator side normally and the wire goes to the TAB on the starter that is for +++++. The +++ gets switched and the ground is all over the engine and body and frame. Thus the experision negative ground. Most modern cars are negative ground. When you turn the key it activates the soleniod and that is a big switch and it cranks/powers the starter.

[Jonesie]

EDIT: VERY sorry, I totally forgot. It's the 151 4-banger.


Here is how I hooked up my starter. RED to the big post (from the solenoid/battery), green to the smaller post closet to the starter body, and BLACK (NEG Battey cable) to the bolt holding the starter to the bell.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pBqvGHlivEoVEhYOOrn-Ig?feat=directlink

Clearly I should have taken this picture BEFORE is ripped out the started, but I didn't. Lesson learned!

Thanks - David

[Mike Romain]

Your starter does 'not' have a negative cable to it.... It only grounds through the block.

The black wire is not likely a 'negative' wire....

Where does the main positive battery cable go to? If it goes to the starter bolt, then there must be other larger wires bolted on there also to feed the wiring harness for the Jeep. Things like headlights and alternator have to have a connection to the positive post of the battery, normally they get this where the cable bolts onto the starter solenoid.

[Jonesie]

Hey Mike,
I'm 99% sure the RED cable is hooked up properly. I won't get a chance to look at it until I get home from work, but I disconnected the RED cable from the starter, and simply connected it back. I do not believe (from memory) that it comes directly from the battery.

However, once I had the starter out of the Jeep, I noticed that the NEG battery cable was not connected on either end, so I assumed it was secured to one of the mounting bolts for the starter, so that's where I connected it.

When I removed the starter, I removed a total of 4 things:

The primary RED cable to the starter, from the largest post on the starter.
A smaller green wire from one of the smaller posts on the starter.
2x starter mounting bolts.

I'm guessing that my problem lies in the fact that maybe I created a short by connecting the NEG cable from the battery to (essentially) the frame of the starter.

What do you think?

Thanks - David

[Mike Romain]

Originally Posted by Jonesie

I'm guessing that my problem lies in the fact that maybe I created a short by connecting the NEG cable from the battery to (essentially) the frame of the starter.

What do you think?

Thanks - David

This doesn't make sense. That black cable was just floating loose so you could toss it away? No connections anywhere?

Running a cable from the starter base or engine block to the battery negative will 'not' cause a spark unless there is no cable coming off the negative post at all and something 'big' is turned on like the starter or headlights or....

There should be two wires off your battery. One to the starter solenoid usually on the fender and one to the engine block.

From this fender solenoid, a cable (usually black) goes to the starter itself.

I am trying to figure where this spare wire came from.....

[Jonesie]

Would there be multiple wires attached to that main post on the starter? Could this black wire I'm seeing actually be from the solenoid, and I need to attach it to the main post with the red wires as well?

Without looking at it, I am starting to second guess myself, and I'm getting a little confused. I will take a look at it this afternoon when I get off work, and I'll try to post some pictures. Thanks for your help thus far.

David

[Mike Romain]

Originally Posted by Jonesie

Would there be multiple wires attached to that main post on the starter? Could this black wire I'm seeing actually be from the solenoid, and I need to attach it to the main post with the red wires as well?

Without looking at it, I am starting to second guess myself, and I'm getting a little confused. I will take a look at it this afternoon when I get off work, and I'll try to post some pictures. Thanks for your help thus far.

David

Yes, that is what I am thinking... The red wires are smaller usually and lead to the harness. That big black wire bites folks all the time, you automatically think negative when lots of them are positives....

[1984CJ]

The 4-151 apparently has a GM style starter with the integrated solenoid.
So Red cable to the large lug should be correct.

The 1984 manual that I have and the 1982 diagrams that auto zone have show the following.
Light blue wire to "S" terminal
Batt +(and other reds) to large terminal
Black to Neutral safety SW ( Auto only)

Neither of these diagrams indicate a difference in the solenoid wiring between a 6 cyl and a 4 cyl.

[cj5752]

I am not really familiar with the 151 wiring. I do know about delco type starters. That starter would not normaly have a remote mounted solenoid. The solenoid is mounted on the starter. The large terminal would have a cable directly from the battery and would also have a wire feeding power to the other eletrical needs of the jeep. The green wire is an energize wire for the starter solenoid. It gets power when the key is in the start position. The ground for the starter comes from the engine block through the body of the starter. The "-" neg battery cable runs from the battery to the engine block. If you every thing hooked up correctly you may get a spark at the neg battery terminal if something electrical is on. If it is hooked up wrong you will get heat and smoke.

[Jonesie]

Originally Posted by cj5752

I am not really familiar with the 151 wiring. I do know about delco type starters. That starter would not normaly have a remote mounted solenoid. The solenoid is mounted on the starter. The large terminal would have a cable directly from the battery and would also have a wire feeding power to the other eletrical needs of the jeep. The green wire is an energize wire for the starter solenoid. It gets power when the key is in the start position. The ground for the starter comes from the engine block through the body of the starter. The "-" neg battery cable runs from the battery to the engine block. If you every thing hooked up correctly you may get a spark at the neg battery terminal if something electrical is on. If it is hooked up wrong you will get heat and smoke.

I've seen the spark from hooking up the battery, and this wasn't that spark! It was rather intense. I'm going to take a closer look at it this afternoon, and post some follow-up info.

Thanks - David

[Fabian15]

i have been recently been putting my jeep back together with the 151 in it. I read the thread you posted some time ago, and was woundering if you ever figured out the correct wire to post? and if you would be so kind as to tell me because i have no clue. thanks

[SlikRic]

This should show you.

Jeep® 1982 TSM online

I use it on my 83 Iron Duke.

[SlikRic]

I just checked mine, on the back (closer to the tub)There is one bolt, it has 2 wires bolted to it coming out of a wiring harness that runs down the by the fernder. Can't tell what color, haven't cleaned up the engine bey yet. way to mcuch grease build up.