When I turn the key to start my car, the voltage drops to like 8 volts and the car does not turn over or click or anything. It does not do this everytime, but is doing it a lot of the time. I realize there is a short because of the voltage drop as well as a white wire with a red or pink stripe that gets really hot. I know that a bad starter can cause a short, but I hear a clicking under the dash when this happens. So if the starter is causing the short, would something under the dash make any sounds? Or is there a relay switch of some kind under the dash that could be bad and causing the short?

Thanks
Tim

 

That clicking under the dash is probably coming from the starter enable relay mounted under the left kick panel because there isn't enough power to crank the engine. Where is this white wire with red or pink stripes that you are talking about located? What is it going too?

 

Trickster

I am not sure where it goes. I had to take my car to get inspected so I do not have it right now. But I know it goes into a larger harness of wires. I knew there was a relay behind the kick panel but I could not find it when I looked briefly the other day. It starts when you jump the solenoid posts, so I think that rules out the starter causing the short. Therefore, I think it has to be under the dash somewhere. Where exactly is the starter enable relay? Could it be causing the short?

 

In the 89 Iroc it will be located behind the left kick panel below the hood release cable. It might have black sticky insulation covering it. It will have 4 wires going into it. Here is a picture of its general location. No, it's not likely that it is causing your short. Has a previous owner gone hogwild under the dash running all kinds of weird wiring?

 

Yeah, I looked back there when I still had the car and that relay was not there. It must have come off or was taken off. Either way, I will have to look for it I guess, because it is not in the original location. And yes, the wiring under my dash is a disaster. I always figured I would have more problems than I do. I guess I am going to have to tract the wire and see whereit ends up.