I"m finishing up the starter on my Series 2 XJ12 and I need some help on where these last two connections go.

I have the trigger wire connected to the new starter, but my replacement gear reduction starter only has one post (for +12v). On the old starter, there was a wire coming from the firewall area (looked like it went up to the battery tray area-ish) that was tied together in a bracket with the trigger wire, and connected to one side side of the solenoid. When installing the new starter, I completely forgot about the wire that runs inside a conduit alongside the block to the starter, is this another +12v connection or is this another ground? If it's +12v, do I just connect it and the other wire together on the same stud?

 

The wire in the conduit you refer to connects to the alternator. This connects on the starter motor to the same post as the 12 volt feed from the post mounted on the firewall near the battery. The yellow stud/ post you have highlighted is used purely to attach a clip that holds the cable in place. The new starter should be easier to install, certainly a lot lighter!

 

Definitely a lot lighter! Way more room to work with as well. So what you're saying is connect both that wire from the Alternator and the one coming from the firewall post onto the same stud together?

 

Yes correct, effectively the starter motor permanent 12 volt post is used as the 12 v supply to the alternator. Regards Simon

 

Thanks for the quick response, I'll finish up the install tomorrow and hopefully report back with good news.

After pulling the old starter off and testing it, it does technically spin, but it sounds not very healthy and i was able to shake out some glitter...

 

New starter is in! However I've run into... other issues. When measuring with my multimeter at the starter, when trying to crank, I'm getting a voltage drop on the stud on the starter down to like... 3-4 volts. Does this cable go up directly to the stud on the firewall next to the battery tray?

When attempting to crank, the short ~1.5 foot cable from the positive battery terminal to the firewall stud gets rather warm, and a voltage drop measured at the starter with no cranking. Maybe the cable from the firewall to the starter was overheated at some point and/or has high internal resistance?

 

YUP!