Code 31 Help

[CavScout0]

Well after having starting issues I looked closer to my terminals, and grounds and such. I found my positive battery terminal where it connects to the starter relay rusted all to hell. My negative battery terminal where it connects to the block was rusted up too. I cleaned all that up. I found a 16 gauge fusible link on the starter relay semi melted looking as well. I ohmed it and came back ok. Inspected the starter and looked like the postive wire was slightly frayed and may have been touching the oil pan. Also I cannot find a ground coming off the starter. There has to be one for it to have started right? So Im going around and inspecting and cleaning grounds and connection. Is it possible the problems I am having could be electrical in nature. And can I ground the starter pretty much anywhere? Ohh and found the ground from firewall to back of block missing.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Grounds are real important and could very well be the issue. The starter is grounded through the engine and tranny no ground is necessary. The computer has a ground pin #49 orange wire so go through and sand all the grounds you can find metal to metal. you can add a ground from battery pos to the radiator support if not there and for sure add the ground strap from the engine to the firewall. Bend wires and cables looking for weak spots. Pull all the electrical connectors apart and clean with electrical cleaner. add some dielectric grease when you put them back together and push all the pins in fully with a jewelers screwdriver from the back. That includes relays and the computer connector. Another good upgrade is add a ground from battery neg to the alternator housing. If it dont look right it aint and if you dont need to pass smog dont put any money into it just duraspark it and bring that engine to life.

 

[PetesPonies]

Ohms are nouns . . not verbs But otherwise, you are doing great If your block to firewall ground was missing, that is an important ground for sure. Make sure it is clean at both connections. I once had an engine that was turning the choke ( manual choke obviously ) cable fire engine red. The engine to frame ground looked good, but the cable was just sitting in the connector, no real connection. The choke cable, from carburetor to dash, was the only true ground. Kinda funny and dangerous at the same time. Good luck.