I recently swapped a motor from a fomula firebird into my 1988 camaro. I think the firebird was an 87or88. The motor starts great runs great for about 5min then shuts off. I noticed the volt meter was always reading low. The lights are bright the car starts each time I try to restart and it will shut off even sooner each time i restart. When the lights are turned on the car tries to shut off, when I put it in gear it tries to shut off. as soon as the car is turned on the fan comes on, I tried to unplug the fan to see what would happen. The car would not start with the fan unpluged, All it does is crank but not start. If anyone has any ideas or pictures of the area by the battery I might be able to trace some wiress. Thank anyone for your help.

 

What was there originally and what did you put in it? Did you check all your grounds, is there a wire going from the alternator to the battery.

 

The motor that came out of the car was a 1988, 305, throttle body injected engine. The motor that it was replaced with was a 305, throttle body injected engine from I think a 1987 or 1988 formula firebird. I have checked the tps, IAC, mapp, changed the alternator, (still low voltage), charged the battery, still low voltage, when anything is turned on It creates a major draw in power. The car starts and idles at about 1300rpm when it idles down it drops to about 700. As soon as you step on the brake, turn on the lights or put it in gear it tries to shut off. I can sometimes keep it running if I hit the gas in time. The minute I step off the gas it will shut off. I am not in front of the car at the moment but this is the way I think the electric hook up is going. Positive battery is going to main terminal on starter, there is a small wire that comes off the cable right at the battery post. That wire goes to a small junction that has I think orange and black wires connected to it as well. I think there is as large red wire that goes to this junction as well that comes from the alternator but it is hard to tell because it goes into the wire loom first. If this will help someone to get me to figure this problem out I would really be greatful. Thanks

 

Is there a small post on the back of the alternator with a black wire or red/black wire going to the positive post on the battery? This is what sends the charge to the battery.

 

In your first post, you mentioned disconnecting the fans. Did you disconnect the fans at the base of the fans or at a flat rectangular harness connector with about five wires in it near the right side of the radiator?

 

Trickster, first I would like to thank you for your ongoing help.

Second there is a red thick gage wire that appears to go to the starter. The only wires comming from the positive battery terminal are: 1- red goes directly to the starter, 2- theres a small wire connected to the positve cable at the terminal that has a connector and short wire that go to the junction block next to the radiator. Would the low voltage cause the engine to shut off and still start back up over and over.

 

Hello Onpoint357,

In my second post, I asked about a red/black wire coming from the alternator to the positive post of the battery. My bad there, that is the set-up for a 5.0L & 5.7L TPI. Sorry about that. Here is a picture from a 89 camaro GM service manual for the LO3 battery and engine bay wiring. Also, if you have low voltage and put a drain on the system, it will shut things down. That red wire that comes off the alternator and appears to go to the starter solenoid should have a fusible link on it. You might want to check them also.

 

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Not to hijack this post,, but Trickster,,,

YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!

No wonder we all come to you for help with our electrical woes. Great diagrams BTW, are they Mitchells?

Continue kicking *** dude..
Tony