1969 Mark III Electrical Issues & Update

Good Afternoon Bill,
Hoping you can help me with what I hope is a minor electrical malfunction on my Mark III. I just recently did some major work in the engine bay and put everything back together. This problem was not present before this project. I am getting a draw and I believe I have it narrowed down to the ignition system, specifically the wire from the ignition switch to solenoid (hopefully).
Basically, when I connect the battery (with the ignition switch off (no key in switch)), for all intents and purposes, the car is now “on”. The seatbelt light illuminates when I connect the battery. For a week or two, aside from that, everything else operated as normal, save for the fact that I had to disconnect the battery whenever I parked the car to prevent it from being drained.
Now, when I attempt to shut the engine down, I can turn the lock cylinder off, take the key out, and engine is still running! I have to pull the wire off of the “I” terminal at solenoid to turn engine off. This leads me to believe it is a faulty ignition switch. So I replaced the switch, to no avail. I’m out of ideas. I’m not entirely familiar with how that part of the ignition system works on this car so I’m hoping you can lend some insight as to what the problem may be. It’s rather inconvenient, to say the least.
Thanks for any help you’re able to offer,
Dan
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Dan –
From the sound of your email it would seem at first glance that you have re- connected your wiring incorrectly somewhere near the starter solenoid or the solenoid has failed internally. Since I do not know what or if any wiring that you have handled is in fact assembled incorrectly or if the solenoid has become faulty you will first need to examine the wiring and compare it with the correct “Start and Run Circuit” wiring diagram for the car. This is called “backtracking” and is the best place for you to start. Do you have the shop manual or a wiring diagram?
Sincerely,
Bill
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Hello Bill,
Thanks for your response. When I removed the wiring, I left everything connected (to solenoid, junction block, etc.) I disconnected only at main connector near firewall.
A faulty solenoid did cross my mind. I guess the next thing I need to know is this: Is the wire that gets connected to the “I” terminal on the solenoid supposed to be “hot” with the battery connected and ignition switch off? At this point, if I remove the brown wire from the solenoid, I have 12 volts there with the ignition switch off.
I do have a shop manual and I have looked at the wiring diagram for the starting circuit but I don’t know how to tell what has constant battery power and what doesn’t.
Thanks!
Dan
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Dan –
It sounds like you have a bad starter solenoid. That “I” terminal should have no power at the solenoid or the brown wire from the wire harness when the key is off. If you have power there at the terminal with the key off with the brown wire disconnected the solenoid should be replaced. If the brown wire is powered when disconnected the the problem is elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Bill