Here's the story, stock starter replaced with a powermaster 9600 nippendenso style starter. So I replaced my battery with another optima red top, hooked the positive battery cable and 3 fuse links to the battery terminal on the starter. Then I put the purple ignition switch wire onto the switch terminal. Those are the only 2 pins on the starter. So I go to start it today and the battery is completely dead, I had charged it so it wasn't dead, this is when it get's weird. I looked for any shorts, none, so I jump it. Car still doesn't start and I blow my ignition fuse when I'm jumping the car!!! BTW, the starter gear IS engauged but this is normal with gear reduction starters. So then All of a sudden the lights go out and the jumper cables start to melt , so what's the problem?
I suspect a short but none of the cables a melting or broken! So I think it's in the starter. Somehow the starter is stuck in an unhealthy position and it's shorting the battery.... but why isn't the positive lead going TO the starter warm?
I'm desperate at this point, I have no idea what's going on with this car and to be honest, I'm THIS close to ripping the damn thing apart and parting the car out.