Dennis, my first thought is that the solenoid itself is hanging up when hot.
One way to verify this is to connect a test lamp directly across the
solenoid, from the side terminal that activates the solenoid (not the one
wired to the coil) to the body of the solenoid. Use lamp cord or something
to bring the light out from under the hood and fasten to a wiper or
something, so you can drive the car with it installed and see it from the
driver's seat. The light should come on only while cranking the motor.
When the problem occurs, if the light comes on, you've established with
certainty that the problem is not the small wiring, interlock, ignition
switch, ground, etc.
Second thought, are you sure the new ground cable is making good contact
with the body ? Is it in good shape all the way back to the battery ?
Third thought, double check the wiring where the interlocks were removed. I
believe the interlock used a relay, if you've retained the relay it might be
the problem too ...
BTW, I'm guessing moving the shifter is just supplying enough vibration to
the engine to shake loose whatever's stuck.
Randall
> The specifics - 1976 TR6 - engine rebuilt last year (milled head,
> up-
> rated cam, etc). Battery and starter are a few years old. Car has
> Pertronix
> electronic ignition. Car was re-painted this past spring. Seat belt
> interlocks
> were removed in 1989.
> The car ALWAYS starts the first time when cold. After warm up.
> however,
> it occasionally (20% of the time) will not start. I turn the key and the
> ignition
> lights come on but I get NOTHING - no clicks, no nothin'. HOWEVER (and
> here's the weird part), if I keep the key in the START position and move
> the
> gearshift knob back and forth through the neutral gate, IT STARTS!
> We thought it might be the negative battery connection and sure
> enough,
> the negative cable was more than half gone where it attaches between the
> body and the motor (motor moves, body doesn't - cable eventually breaks).
> However, after replacing the cable, I'm still having the problem.
> I looked through Dan Master's book but could find nothing that
> appeared
> to be relevant (even under the heading "Weird Things" on page 15).
> There's no reverse lockout or any other electrical connections that
> I know
> of between the starter and the shifter, so how is this motion of the
> shifter allow-
> ing the car to start? Any and all ideas appreciated...
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