C3 Starter Wiring Harness

[Tom W.]

I'm installing a "Pirkle correct" Starter/solenoid. I've reviewed the archives, which were very helpful. However, I'm puzzled by what I found inside a cheap plastic wire-wrap tube heading to my starter.
Not counting the Batt wire, there were 5 wires attached to the starter:
1) Red 12-ga. wire (which was spliced 4 or 5 times before the fusible link)
2) Purple 12-ga. wire on the small "S" terminal (Start Circuit)
3) Black Ground wire under the inboard Mounting Bolt
4) Yellow 20-ga. cloth shielded wire on the "R" terminal (goes to + side of coil) The shielding is really discolored.
5) *Yellow 12-ga wire on the "R" terminal (about 36" long, but connected to nothing* (See attached pic)

-What could have been the pupose of this 5th wire?
-What method is recommended for slicing these wires (soldering, or crip connectors)?
-What is the best material to wrap these wires in once fixed?

Thanks in advance- you guys are the best Vette resources ever!
Tom

[Tom L.]

Re: C3 Starter Wiring Harness

The second wire on the "R" terminal is incorrect, there should only be one. It would serve no real purpose as it would only be hot during cranking. The purple is your crank wire. The yellow from the "R" terminal to the coil sends battery voltage to the coil while cranking. The positive to the coil has a resistor in-line so it has significantly less than line voltage while the car is running. The extra voltage during cranking is for easier starting. The ground to the outboard starter bolt and the red on the main battery terminal are correct.

Regarding repair, soldier and shrink wrap is the only real way to go. Crimp connectors are failures waiting to happen.

The harness finish was a white cloth type tape. I'm sure you could get some from Lectric Limited. You may also want to replace the fusible link if it has been damaged or spliced into.