Positive Lead Fusible Link with plastic covers removed

Starter Relay with cover removed.

Side View Starter Relay with cover removed


I had just installed a rebuilt engine and am connecting everything. I have installed a rebuilt starter and am trying to get the engine to turn over. Nothing happens when the key is turned. I read an archived thread that suggested that the fusible link on the battery cable with four blade connectors with brown color was a good place to start. Attached is a photo of the fusible link with the two black plastic covers removed. I used a Dremel to buff the male blades and squeezed the female connectors with pliers to create tight electrical connections. Still would not turn over. I took the cover off the starter relay to look for burned contacts. None were found. According to the 1990 starter schematic Figure 2.1 of Electrical Guide XJS 1990/1991 MY Publication S-57/90, the Yellow and White (WY) wire from the ignition switch to contact W2 supplies power to the relay coil. Black and green wire (BG) connecting to W1 connects to Diode "C" and routed through the Neutral Switch to ground. I confirmed that connection to ground at the Neutral switch (Closed when in Park or Neutral). The schematic says C1 and C4 of the relay are connected. White and Red are connected to both.

I narrowed this down to the Black and Green wire. By installing a ground wire from W1 of the relay to the mount bracket for the relay, the car turns over fine when the key is turned. It appears that an open ground in the black and green wire is the culprit. . Since the two wires for the neutral switch indicate ground with a volt/ohm meter, The issue seems to be at Diode "C". If I remember correctly, a diode will indicate flow with the volt/ohm meter one way but not the other with the ohm meter probes reversed. I will check the diode tomorrow if I can find it.

 

I thought that Diode C was under the shift console, to be close to the neutral safety switch. I was not able to find it. Went back to the electrical guide and looked at the map. Diode C is supposedly close to the starter relay. I was able to find three in that area, but none with black and green wires. I am just going to leave the ground wire that I installed bypassing the ground circuit.