There are 2 leads on the Howell system (orange wire labelled "Direct Battery Power" and purple wire labelled "Starter Solenoid") that are in question.
One of them (orange wire) is a no brainer. Howell says to attach it to the battery side of the starter solenoid. But, since it is for "Direct Battery Power", it could be connected to any of the red wires on the Starter System wiring diagram for my 91 GW (see attached diagram).
The purple wire to the starter solenoid is my question. According to the installation instructions, it is to be attached to the starter side of the solenoid. If the folks at Jeep had designed the 89 - 91 GW starting system similar to the earlier models, the starter solenoid would be on the right fender well -- exactly where the Howell instructions say it is located -- and the connection of the purple wire would be simple.
But, the Jeep folks decided to make a change during the 89-91 model years and mount the starter solenoid on the starter, way down under the engine. They mounted a starter relay on the fender well in place of the solenoid.
I am guessing that the purpose of this wire (purple wire) is to provide a signal to the ECM that the engine is cranking. If that is the case, it might be simpler to just attach the purple wire at the green wire on the relay that is on the fender well. It provides a 12 V signal to activate the solenoid. Wouldn't that serve the same purpose?
Take a look at the pictures and the wiring diagram and let me know if I am making sense or I am way off base.
Thanks.
One of them (orange wire) is a no brainer. Howell says to attach it to the battery side of the starter solenoid. But, since it is for "Direct Battery Power", it could be connected to any of the red wires on the Starter System wiring diagram for my 91 GW (see attached diagram).
The purple wire to the starter solenoid is my question. According to the installation instructions, it is to be attached to the starter side of the solenoid. If the folks at Jeep had designed the 89 - 91 GW starting system similar to the earlier models, the starter solenoid would be on the right fender well -- exactly where the Howell instructions say it is located -- and the connection of the purple wire would be simple.
But, the Jeep folks decided to make a change during the 89-91 model years and mount the starter solenoid on the starter, way down under the engine. They mounted a starter relay on the fender well in place of the solenoid.
I am guessing that the purpose of this wire (purple wire) is to provide a signal to the ECM that the engine is cranking. If that is the case, it might be simpler to just attach the purple wire at the green wire on the relay that is on the fender well. It provides a 12 V signal to activate the solenoid. Wouldn't that serve the same purpose?
Take a look at the pictures and the wiring diagram and let me know if I am making sense or I am way off base.
Thanks.
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