What did I break?(newbie question)

New to Jeeps and working on them (and any vehicle for that matter). I bought a 1980 cj5 about a month ago and have been having a ball working on it. It sat in a field for about five years, and I was putting in a new distributor cap (uhoh) and my dislexia kicked in and I connected two of the wires in the wrong spots (and even double checked them wrong twice). As you can guess the engine would not catch even though it turned over.....and then...it stopped turning over at all..so now when I turn the key I get nothing at all...don't have the knowledge to know what I did. Have replaced since I bought the car the battery, solenoid switch, starter, coil, wires and carb. Any and all thoughts appreciated...even on how to diagnose problem.
:?

PS this site and the information from all of you has been invaluable so thank you in advance.

 

Just putting a couple of plug wires on in the wrong order *shouldn't* blow anything up. Quite possible that you simply have a broken/loose wire somewhere near the ignition switch. Get a test light and start checking!

 

How much did you try and start the engine, battery might be dead, burned up the solenoid, or worse the starter... Does it click or is it just dead quiet??

 

I switched out the solenoid so I know thats not it...the starter is brand new ( less than two weeks old)...nothing happens when I turn the key

 

ps and battery is less than two weeks old too

 

I read that the stuff was new, but if you keep the key turned over for periods at a time or try it over and over it can burn stuff up. Thats why I asked how much you tried to turn the engine over.

 

ok...is there away to test starter other than replaceing? And I turned over between five and ten times.

 

Check your battery cables, may have one loose.
If they are fine check all the wires on the s'noid.

 

Pull off the cables at the battery and clean them and terminals on battery. Just had this happen to me after I went to the carwash and douched the engine. From the symptoms you descibed, that has to be it.

 

Check all your grounds too, especially the one off the battery to the motor. Make sure they're clean of corrosion and nice and tight. Also check the cables real close, they WILL corrode and break under the insulation. Any wire will, especially old ones. And that's a real pizzer to try and find.

 

Not trying to be a wiseguy but maybe you just killed the battery?? Try a jumpstart.

 

Even though you have a new battery it may have run down from trying to start it. I would test the battery with a digital voltmeter if you don't have one already you can buy an inexpensive one at Radio Shack/Sears for ($15-20). A fully charged battery should read 12.65 if not, the battery should be charged. Let us know what the reading are.

 

Another possibility is a loose wire that finally has enough corrosion on it to not pass enough current to the solenoid to reach the switching threshhold.
You might try bypassing the starter switch. Essentially "hot wiring" it.
There are probably some very experienced folks around here who could give
you detailed instructions.

Caveates galore.
Becareful.
What I have done in the past.
I have an appliance cord about 6 feet long, it has 2 alligator clips at one end and a push button "non latching" (impulse) switch at the other end. The solenoid takes the starter switch electric impluse from when you turn the key and it and sends it to the solenoid, this in turn powers an electromagnet, that pulls a high amp contactor closed connecting the battery directly to the starter.
The positive wire from the battery is always connected to the starter solenoid, so there is always power to the starter area (unless you have a divorced solenoid in which case there are two 6 guaqe cables at the solenoid, one to the battery one to the starter)
I take the alligator clips and connect one to the cable from the battery where it bolts to the solenoid, I take the other and connect it to the small post on the solenoid where the starter switch wire connects.
Some folks might use a screw driver to short between the terminals. I like to stand back away from the fan and carburator and other sparking and combustable moving parts when I hit the switch.
If I dont get that to move the starter I'll get a ball peen hammer and give the starter a few really good WHACKS. Starters have been known to find dead spots and sit there. The brushs rest on non conductive areas of the comutator and the starter won't turn. A few taps will some times get it to free start working again.
Long winded but You might tap it first then try the hotwire.
Good luck

 

OK...thanks for all the suggestions...update....found loose wire so car turns over now (fun)...after several hours in the south carolina humidity....thanks for all the help

 

I feel your pain, I worked outside most of today and its hot and sticky here also.

Glad you found the prob.
Where at in SC are you? Maybe have some of the guys close to you.