After putting in the new starter, wiring it exactly as it was before, charging the battery, my car is dead. No lights, gauges, horn- everything is dead. The only thing I can think of is that something is not grounded? I really need to figure this out pronto.

 

On my 1991 Camaro, the positive cable from the battery goes to the starter solenoid. From there, a couple wires are connected which power most of the vehicle.

I said "most" because a coupe things (like the fans via the fan relays, fuel pump, ECM, etc.) are connected directly to the battery positive post from a separate, smaller gauge (fusible link?) wire.

With little else to go on, I'd suggest checking that you check that these other wires are connected at the starter solenoid (there should be more than just the one large wire).

 

Okay, so i go back and check all the connections-What should I look for? If everyhting looks good-then what?

 

Did you blow the fuse? I konw it is realy hard to blow, but it could be possible. I don't know where, but between the battery and the starter, I think there is a fuse (giant fuse). The type where it takes a while for the whire (fuse) to burn through and then connection is lost. When I changed my starter, the wires would flop around, and could have gone into contact with some sort of ground. That is my only explanation I can give you.

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I'll give you another. Use a voltmeter (or a 12 volt lightbulb with two wires attached to it) and trace the wire connected to the battery post to see where the voltage stops, and why you don't have power to anything.

For example, the wire powering the lights should have power to it all the time. Trace the voltage from the battery terminal to starter stud, and then to the light switch.

This should be the easiest way to see where the problem is.

 

I actually figured out the problem, or the solution at least. All I did was disconnect all the wires that ground to the chassis. Then i reconnected them and low and behold, the car is back to normal. I guess I shorted something out along the way. Thanks to everyone who replied!