Starter Relay Picture

Ian, it sounds like someone kinda butchered a mini-starter install. The OEM small wire with the boot should go to the top of the solenoid (on the small stud). Then there should be a wire going from the currently vacated terminal (closes the front of your car) to the trigger input on the mini starter.
There should be a fat cable from the firewall side of your fender solenoid to the common terminal on your mini-starter's piggyback solenoid (it sounds like this is probably already there).

I think someone might have connected the little wire with the booty to a new wire that goes to the trigger on the piggyback solenoid. This is not the correct way to do it (the above method is - you use the fender solenoid in-series on the trigger circuit).

I'd fix this and see how it does for you.

MHO based on how I interpreted your post.
Good luck.

91five-o said:

I agree something's not right with the wiring. funny thing is, the car starts (most of the time) the way it's wired ? There's also a small rectangular shaped electrical piece attached to the fender mount starter relay. Any idea what that is. Also, when you try and start the car (when it won't start) the only noise you hear is a clicking sound at the starter with no noise coming from the fender mounted starter relay. Is this normal. A wiring schematic would sure help !

Ian

Click to expand...

What I'm thinking is that the signal from the ignition switch is sometimes dropping too much current to energize the piggyback solenoid. That would explain the intermittant starting. When done properly, the interlock wiring is OEM to the fender solenoid. Then that relay reinvigorates the signal to the piggyback solenoid. You might just have to undo that goofy connection of the two small wires and connect them appropriately to your fender solenoid.

The circuit breakers can have metal brackets on them IIRC - that might be what you're seeing.

Oh, you will never hear the fender solenoid make noise because of how the wiring was done. Once you redo it, the fender solenoid will again be functional (acting as a booster of sorts for your trigger). Right now, the trigger signal never reaches it so it won't even click.

Random thoughts.

Good luck Ian.