Circuit Operation - Starter

Battery Voltage is available at all times through Fuse 6 located in the Underhood Fuse-Relay Center. Voltage is made available at the Ignition Switch through the RED (242) wire. When the Ignition Switch is placed in START, contacts in the Switch close to apply Voltage to the YEL (5) wire. The YEL (5) wire supplies voltage to the CRANK Fuse 8 of the I/P Fuse Block. From the CRANK Fuse, voltage is sent on PPL (806) to PIN A of the Clutch Pedal Position Switch for Manual Transmission or at PIN E of the Transmission Range Switch for Automatic Transmission.

If the Clutch Pedal is depressed for Manual Transmission or if the Automatic Transmission is in the PARK or NEUTRAL position, contacts are closed which applies Voltage to the PPL (1035) wire at PIN C of the Clutch Pedal Position Switch or at PIN G of the Transmission Range Switch. The PPL (1035) wire applies Voltage to PIN B9 of the Starter Relay located in the Underhood Fuse-Relay Center. The Starter Relay Coil is connected to PIN B9 and to PIN A7. The BLK (150) wiring from PIN A7 provides a ground path to Ground G105 and the Starter Relay Coil is energized.

When the Relay Coil is energized, contacts are closed to apply Battery Voltage to the Starter Solenoid. The RED (242) wire from Maxi-Fuse 6 to PIN A9 of the Starter Relay provides Voltage which is sent through the PPL (6) wire connected at Relay PIN B7 to Starter solenoid Terminal S. This provides Voltage to the Hold-In Winding and the Pull-In Winding of the Solenoid.

Both solenoid windings are energized. The circuit through the Pull-In Winding is completed to ground through the Starter Motor. The windings work together magnetically to pull-In and hold the Plunger. The Plunger moves the Shift Lever. This action causes the Starter Drive Assembly to rotate as it engages the Flywheel ring gear on the Engine. At the same time, the Plunger also closes the Solenoid Switch contacts in the Starter Solenoid. Full Battery Voltage is supplied directly to the Starter Motor and it cranks the Engine.

As soon as the Solenoid Switch contacts close, Voltage is no longer supplied through the Pull-In Windings, since battery voltage is supplied to both ends of the windings. The Hold-In Winding remains energized, and its magnetic field is strong enough to hold the Plunger, Shift Lever and Drive Assembly Solenoid Switch contacts in place to continue cranking the Engine.

When the Ignition Switch is released from the START position, Battery Voltage is removed from the PPL (6) wire and the junction of the two windings. Voltage is supplied from the Motor contacts through both windings to ground at the end of the Hold-In Windings. However, the Voltage supplied to the Pull-In Winding is now opposing the Voltage supplied when the winding was first energized. The magnetic fields of the Pull-In and Hold-In Windings now oppose one another. This action of the windings, with the help of the Return Spring, causes the Starter Drive Assembly to disengage and Solenoid Switch contacts to open simultaneously. As soon as the contacts open, the starter circuit is turned off.