On thirdgens, Will the big purple wire connect to just the starter and give me power to all my interior needs? and then the ignition wire run back down to the starter's smaller screw/stud to allow me to turn the key and make the starter do its thing?
Ignore the rest of the direct power wires, it's all aftermarket now. I just need to make sure their is no seperate wire for the ignition that also needs to run down to the starter for always-on power. Basically, does the big thick purple wire also feed power to my ignition in the car? thanks.

 

If my memory serves me correct, the purple wire comes from the ignition switch, connects all by itself to the small stud on the solenoid, and is hot on start.
The rest (red ones) comes from the big stud and are always hot, supplying power to lights, accessories, ignition switch, etc.

 

Ok thank you so I had it a little backwards, Why is the purple so thick if it's only for ignition source?

 

This topic is of help to me too. Thx for the info.

 

It's not an ignition source. It may carry 16A or 40A, but if it creates too much voltage drop then the solenoid easily encounters a no-crank condition so I guess that's the criteria for the dimensioning. The current comes from the big post, thru a fusible link on a red wire, goes via the ignition switch and then back on the pink wire to the small post, supplying the solenoid (when key is in start position).
Here's a thread with diagram for an 84 T/A, but the basics are the same.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...-car-wont.html

 

Ahh yes the pink wire, i gave that 12volt directly and got alot of accessories to work like windows/brake light/wipers. makes sense that is the small post wire. thanks.

Do you know what the big thick purple wire is for?

 

Based on my limited ability to read GM diagrams (vw diagrams is my specialty) it seems the purple wire is the main one for the solenoid.

There is a black wire that goes from B+ to the starter, thats the big lug. Then it shows a "PPL" wire going to the starter. "PPL" seems purple. So, thats my guess on that.

 

I tried running purple to the S terminal, No luck under the key -start- position.
I tried the thin purple wire as well for the hell of it. The pink wire has 12 volts under key in run position, so that wont work for the starter.

 

I see now that I said something about a pink wire in my second reply whereas I meant purple like I said in my first reply. Yes, pink (with black) goes to many accessories. Did you follow the purple to the gear select switch where it turns into red, and then turns yellow before it enters the ignition switch?
I guess you have the car in working order somehow anyway.

 

well the problem is i went through a re-wiring phase in the engine bay and all the wires that come out of the c100 connector at the firewall got cut, ready for re-wiring as simple as possible.
I guess since purple is correct i will have to start probing wires.
the gear selector switch is right under the shifter right?

 

yes sir, it is.

 

Are you sure the VATS isnt killing it? It was for me so I had to ground the starter relay wire in the driver's footwell.

 

I am not running factory ecm, Wouldn't vats be non functional now?

 

Nope, still functions. Thats why my car wouldnt start with XFI. I had to bypass the VATS.

In the driver's footwell there is a "starter enable relay" that has 4 pins all side by side. The VATS sends a ground signal to the relay. No VATS signal, no ground. I believe if you remove the factory ECM, the VATS freaks and locks down the starter relay. Im not completely sure. But thats what got me starting the car by jumping the starter signal wire for a week or two.