Greetings to all,

I have a 1965 3.8 S type RH Drive, I have been refurbishing this car for a couple years now as it sat for 6 years. I have put a new start button and solenoid, it starts fine with the solenoid but the start button does not work any ideas would be very much appreciated.

 

Must be a wrong or bad connection somewhere. You can blow this up very large. I have a laminated copy on my garage wall.

 

If this is the first time that you installed the stat button, and it won't start, do a continuity test on the new button.
Don't assume just because it's new, that it isn't faulty.

If the solenoid operates manually, connect 12 volts directly to activate it, to rule out that it isn't faulty as well.
Check its ground too.

 

The solenoid is operated by the Start button supplying volts to the coil that operates it. There is also a push-button so that the solenoid can be manually operated by a mechanic, (or yourself), when working under the hood and saves having to go round and push the button. If pushing the Start button does nothing, then there is : -
1. No supply to the push button
2. A break in the line between push button and solenoid
3. The solenoid coil is faulty (open circuit).

As I recall, the Start button can be used to turn the engine over any time, but the engine won't start unless the ignition switch is on, as there will be no spark, nor will the fuel pump start.

 

Spot on. Don't take it for-granted that new parts are not faulty.

 

If the wires to the button are all good and the starter turns if you short the button, the button is not making good contact. This happens with old buttons and can usually be corrected by twisting or pushing and twisting the button. However, if a new button is faulty, the supplier should provide a replacement.

I'll go a bit further than Glyn, and say, apart from one or two exceptions, expect new repro parts to be faulty.

 

i would simply short circuit the wires in and out of the button. if the car starts, it's the button. if not, looking elsewhere might be warranted.

i suppose it's theoretically possible that the button's housing serves as a ground and there's only one wire coming into it, if so, simply short circuit the one and only wire to ground again, if she starts, it's the button.

 

 

Thank you

 

The circuit for the starter button is very simple. Power goes from the ignition key through the starter button to the solenoid on the bulkhead. If the solenoid is working but the button is not it could be either the button or solenoid and you would have to check continuity for both.
That said your car is an Auto. The car will not start on the button if the car is in gear but the engine will turn over on the solenoid even with the ignition off and the car in gear. Check that the gearbox is in neutral and that the gearbox inhibitor switch is functioning correctly.

 

If its an automatic, check the switch under the dashboard.