Hey all, I just picked up an 81 Berlinetta and I love it. The previous owner decided to put a push button switch in it and I hate it haha. How can I rewire it to use the standard key cylinder ignition on the column? Thanks

Cody

 

I cant figure out how to add a pic. The push button has 2 wires and they both seem to run out through the firewall

 

Hard to say what you need, as not sure what the previous owner did, and why? Can I assume it's set up to turn the key on, and then push the button to start? If so, then there might have been an issue with the start switch, and that will need to be resolved to return to a key ignition start. Removing the pushbutton is all that's needed to get rid of it, but you'll have to trace the two wires back, and see how they're tapped into the wiring. Also check the neutral safety switch by putting the car in "drive" and your foot hard on the brake. Push the old pushbutton, and see if it tries to start. If it does, then the previous owner bypassed the neutral safety switch. If it doesn't, then check the neutral safety switch to see if it gets 12v. power in and out with the key switch. If it doesn't have power in "park", then that may be what failed.

 

usually on the 81 the fuseable link dies so they add in a push button what does your car do when you try and start with the key switch? there are wireing diagrams here somewhere just have o follow it out and see whats bad

 

greecamaro- where is this fuseable link you speak of? When I attempt to start it with the key I get nothing. Hell half of the time I hit the push button that doesn't work either.

The 2 wires from the push button run directly to the starter, one to the ground post the other to the hot post. Any ideas how to fix it or what needs to be replaced.

Edit: So I am pretty sure its the fusible link. Where the heck can I buy one?

 

I think this may be my problem. Are these the fusible links? Of so one of the wires was completely shredded and covered with electrical tape inside of that metal heat shield. Where do I get another one of these, do I even need that white part since the break in the line is between that and the starter? Thanks

 

yes those are the links you can buy bulk fuseable link wire at any parts store just match the colors. they bring power to the whole car i bet that the exciter wire was melted in the heat shield so the previous bypassed it. i think the first pic has a red connector on the little stud this is not stock so prolly the exciter wire this needs to be run to the key crank power. i would fix eveything obvious and then see what doesnt work im sure that there is a wire cut off ontop of the back of the engine that needs to be run to the red connector in the first pic.


so im tired and that was cconfusing read through it and well see what i need to do for more help

 

I picked up a couple of fusible links today from O'reillys and will get them installed today and pray that that solves my issue.

The red connector and the yellow one are both the wires for the aftermarket push button that I am getting rid of. I left them there for my reference in case I need to put it back on for some reason.

 

ok so worst case senario you get all the links replaced and still nothing! start at the bottom of the column and find the actual ignition switch small thing with a little rod pointing to the steeering wheel the bottom wire is the exciter for the starter (after verifying it only has power in the crank position) follow it out as far as you can and then hook it up to the little stud on the starter (red connector in the pictures) also the yellow connector is located to the hot power distribution for the whole car not the ground. good luck i hope we go it figured out!

 

Well I got the links replaced. Another issue popped up though, when I reconnected the battery cables I had absolutely no power (can't even turn on headlights). I threw the battery on my charger and it said it was 100% charged. Put it back in the car and nothing... Guess I will be trouble shooting that tomorrow...

Edit- Had the starter wired wrong, once i fixed the wiring I had power. Still not cranking at all with the key even with the new fusible links... Right now the way it is wired (see pic) is the bat cable and the 2 fusible links that share a connector are on the large bolt on the top of the starter and the 1 wire is on the bolt that is to the lower left of the large bolt if that makes sense... I guess I have to look into an ignition switch now.