Author Topic: Hot-wiring an '83 burban?  (Read 3170 times)

Offline Breadvan

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Hot-wiring an '83 burban?
« on: August 28, 2014, 06:39:38 pm »
No, I'm not stealing it, but it's had mice in it, and the wiring seems to be having issues.

Normally I'd hook a jumper wire to the coil, and apply a screwdriver to the starter solenoid, but according to the Chiltons, I have an ignition module not a coil.

I just want to test fire the engine, have a jug for a fuel cell feeding the carb, and whatever basic wiring I need to get this sucker to turn over and run. Once I've got that done, I can start figuring out whats actually wrong with the wiring, get everyything else shipshape.

So can I just apply power to the ignition module same as I would a coil?

Offline bake74

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Re: Hot-wiring an '83 burban?
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2014, 07:14:33 pm »
     That would depend solely on what the mice ate.  If you look at the wiring diagrams in the tech section, pick 81-87 and what part of the wiring diagram you want to look at, you can see in the V8 engine diagram top left portion is your starter.
     You might want to familiarize yourself with these if you haven't already.
     The battery terminal on the starter.  You will also see 2 fusible links that are tied in there that run into your key switch and basically back to your starter.  ( it is a little more detailed than that, but you could follow the circuit if you want).
     So if you jumped the battery terminal of the starter solenoid to the other pole on the solenoid you could spin the starter, but I am not sure how much damage there is to the wires or how many the mice got to.
     I know you just want to get it to turn over, but in the process you might do more damage if the mice say caused a direct short.  You could end up blowing your fuse able links, or damage your module or worse.
     I am sure someone will tell you how to bypass all the wiring (if possible) just so you can start the engine.  I personally do not bypass things too much, because in my line of work, the systems are there for safety and well people could die if they bypassed them, so I have learned and lived most of my adult life to fix rather than bypass.  So I will not be a good source to tell you how to do that.
   
« Last Edit: August 28, 2014, 07:18:13 pm by bake74 »
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline hatzie

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Re: Hot-wiring an '83 burban?
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2014, 09:05:29 am »
You can run a hot wire from the firewall junction stud to the HEI ignition coil BATT terminal but remember to make it easy to disconnect.
You can make or buy one of these remote starter buttons for things like this and compression tests.  http://www.amazon.com/OTC-3650-Heavy-Duty-Remote-Starter/dp/B002YKFA3G
SVC & wiring mans --> Here http://tinyurl.com/7387BRD-SVCMAN or My Bucket @ http://tinyurl.com/SQ-SVCMAN
Parts & Illustr Books -->http://tinyurl.com/SqParts
GMSTG Textbooks-->http://tinyurl.com/STG-TEXTBK
Radio Manuals-->http://tinyurl.com/DELCORADSVC

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Hot-wiring an '83 burban?
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2014, 09:22:25 am »
The ignition control module or ICM is under the rotor you have a coil and you will be OK jumping a wire from the battery to the hot pole on the coil and jump the starter. I would unhook other wires in the system so you don't run the risk of something catching fire. I usually just clamp the wire in the battery terminal so if I have to I can rip it out
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