73 cj5 ignition switch

This is based on the 1976-82 models, but is an off-the-shelf Ford system should be close enough for your purposes.

The heavy cable from the [+] side of the battery goes to the starter relay. A smaller gage wire should run from the same post on the relay to feed the ignition key switch and all accessories. There should always be [+] present at the back of the ignition key switch, even while off.

Looking at the relay with the battery cable to your left (and the heavy cable to the starter to your right) there are two smaller terminals on the relay facing you. The one to the left is the "I" terminal, it feeds full battery power to the [+] terminal on the coil during cranking. The small terminal to your right is the "S" terminal, it is fed power from the key switch when you turn it to the "Start" position.

The wire from the "I" terminal and from the ballast resistor may both be connected to the [+] terminal on the coil, or they may be spliced someplace in the harness. It doesn't matter where this union takes place, so long as you see the proper voltages at the coil.

Using a voltmeter you should see something like 8 volts at the [+] terminal on the coil with the key switch in the "Run" position -- even if the engine isn't turning. The voltage drop is from the resistor wire you found in your harness and the reduced voltage is to keep the coil from burning out. With the key switch in the "Start" position there should be full battery power at the coil's [+] terminal. (if the engine is actually cranking your meter will jump every time the points open and close. You can disconnect and tape off the cable to the starter to prevent the engine from turning if you think that you need to test this.)

Schematic:

-----------------------B+ TO IGN SWITCH | \ __________ TO BATTERY==========! 0 0 !===========TO STARTER ! | | ! ! | | ! Starter relay !_| __ |_! | | | | | --------------TO IGN SW "START" POSITION | | | |----^v^v^v^v^v-----TO IGN SW "RUN" POSITION | Ballast | resistor | | | ___ | ! ! ---------TO DISTRIBUTOR POINTS __\__! !__/_ ! [+] [-] ! ! ! ! ! ! COIL ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !____________!

Good luck.

No.

Wouldn't that be a "no", Bill?

After followinmg this thread I think someone needs to consult a wiring diagram, perhaps this '73 has been subjected to the typical hack jobs many of it's brothers & sisters have suffered over the past 30+ years.

If you want it to do stuff like crank & run, then yes, it should. :-)