[lewdawg]

Was looking at the Ottostart on the parts for sale and was wondering how many GT owners have had the problem described in the add and if this component is a necessity for GT electrical longivity??? Any help/comments are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[nobody]

There was a poll about hard to find items for a GT and a starter switch ranked #2 I do believe. If it were me I'd do one for the Run curcuit as well. For them to fail is extremely common. Then people crank on them too hard and make them irrepairable as they break internally. Where in Utah are you?

 

[soybean (R.I.P.)]

It's (OttoStart) been working for me for almost 3 years. Like "Nobody" said, you need to add one for the Run circuit too. Something I need to do. Jarrell

 

[lewdawg]

I live in Mountain Green...It's through the weber canyon east of Ogden.

 

[jlthunder]

I have installed the Otto start and I have had no problems. Is there a schematic out there for the run circut?

 

[Gary]

I went one step further and tied in a momentary contact switch to the relay. Great for spinning the motor when adjusting valves, tune ups, or troubleshooting.

 

[opelgtboy70]

I now have a problem with my starting system. The car starts fine. But the starter periodically engages. I shook the ignition key and doesnt help. It will do it 3-5 times and then stop for awhile. I have an Otto start on the car. i need this fixed to make it to Carlisle. What is the way to test the wires to find out what is causing it to engage? All help is appreciated.

Karl
70 GT

 

[jordan]

It may not be an otto start relay malfunction, it may be working fine. As the starter switch wears it may have a low current crossing the gap and that may be enough to activate the relay, and then the starter will engage. The only way to have a long lasting trouble free ignition switch is to have it rebuilt and use that with the ottostart relay also.

 

[Killer Texas GT]

Sounds as if your soleniod is sticking , there are several possibilities that cause this to happen, the contacts on you soleniod are worn out and sticking when you start you engine, another is build up of a combination of dirt,oil and crud is causing your solenoid plunger to stick open keeping the drive gear engaged, or the drive gear its self is sticking in the engaged position due the crud build up or a damaged drive gear or possible ring gear. I do not believe the auto start is not causing you starter to stay engage. My opinion is to check your starter first for being the culprit, pull it and do a bench test.

 

[opelgtboy70]

Ive changed starters and still the same problem of it trying to engage. Is there a way to test the system to determine what the problem is? I dont think it is the Otto start. How do I remove the ignition switch?


Karl

 

[wayne70gt]

I had similar problem and removed the ottostart. It then started OK without the starter staying engaged. As Jordan said I believe it is the switch wearing out. With the relay it doesn't take much current to keep the starter engaged. It could be caused by carbon buildup on contacts. Try removeing the ottostart and go from there.

Wayne

 

[GoldGT]

Here is an idea that may work, and get you through the Carlisle period.
Connect a light bulb between ground and the wire that becomes hot on the otto start when you turn the key to start. The light bulb will act as a "drain" to ground for intermittent (sp) short voltage spikes, and may not allow the relay to engage. When you turn the key to start, the light bulb will light, as well as the relay engaging. I would not use this as a permanent fix, but if it works it will get you through next week.

 

[wayne70gt]

You had posted your last message as I was typing mine.
I would say it is your switch. It should be Ok to use your switch without the Ottostart for Carlisle. Just remove it and have it fixed as soon as you can before it is unuseable. I have been useing mine without. I just keep putting off and need to get it done.

Wayne

 

[opelgtboy70]

Do you mean that the Otto start causes the problem to be worse? How do I remove the switch?

Karl

 

[wayne70gt]

I doesn't make it worse. It's just that you notice the problem before it gets worse. If you had never installed the relay you would would not have noticed the problem until it was much worse. The relay doesn't take as much current to activate, that is why you are noticeing it now. I think in your and my case, the switch was beginning to go bad when the relay was installed. It just wasn't apparent. At least now it can be repaired before it is unusable. That is my take on it anyway. Use the search feature. I think there are some posts that have addressed this.

Wayne

 

[opelgtboy70]

Thanks for your help Wayne.

Karl

 

[bq97]

The Otto Start circuit does not cause the problem or amplify it but it does identify a pre-existing problem that was never seen. The root of the problem lies with the ignition start switch. There is either carbon build up or corrosion on the contacts and or bad springs in the switch. Without the Otto start all the current to engage and spin the starter go through the starter switch. As you can imagine this can be a fare amount of current. With the addition of the Otto Start relay the current flow through the switch is reduced to what is necessary to engage the relay coil. The relay in turn carries the starter current. The primary function of the Otto Start is to reduce the current flow through the fragile switch and at this it does an excellent job. Keep in mind we are only addressing the starter circuit not the run circuit or accessory power. With the non Otto Start circuitry after the switch goes back to the run position the carbon build up/corrosion cannot carry the high current load of the starter unless the contacts are in contact as when starting so the starter does not engage. With the addition of the Otto Start relay the current flow to engage the starter is greatly reduced since the new relay carries the load so now the carbon build up / corrosion in the switch can carry the load necessary to activate the relay. Once the relay activates the starter engages. If you want a very simple fix put a switch between the starter switch and the Otto Start relay. When this switch is on you turn the key and the relay activates and engages the starter. With the new switch off the Otto Start relay will never activate therefore the starter will not engage.

hth
Brian