dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

Basicly when i turn my key with the clutch safety switch engaged it just dims the lights when i turn the key. No noise from the starter. There is a little black wire that turns to yellow with a spade connector that plugs into the starter(mini starter). Im pretty sure the rest of the starter is wired right. The purple on the solenoid side. Then the 2 orange fused wires plus the + batter cable on the other side. Then that spade connector has a spot to plug into on the starter. The only weird thing is that the spade connector is constant 12v. I dont know if thats right? I can here a relay click on the DS by the C100 bulkhead connector. The car is an 86 trans am with a 88 camaro engine harness.

travis401

iTrader: (1)

no clue what that other wire with the spade connecter is, but are you sure the battery isnt too low to spin the starter? also check the purple wire and make sure isnt not grounded out somewhere.

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

I can jump the 2 terminals on the start and get it to crank over. Soothe battery has juice. I even had it On trickle charge all night. I guess i will attempt to test that purple wire for 12v. Should it Only have 12v when key is turned to start? Also i guess I will add that the temp gage goes up to being pegged out when I turn the key it's not immediate but just sweeps over in about kinda moderately fast.

travis401

iTrader: (1)

yea, the purple wire only gets juice when the key is in the start position. if it grounds out, it could cause the issues youre having. i managed to pinch mine between the head and block when doing a head gasket change in the car once. caused everything to dim when turning the key to start like it was a dead battery, with no sounds from the starter.

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

My lights dim as well. I guess I will trace that purple wire. Is there a diagram that shows what it goes to?

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

If you can trip the starter manually, but not w/the key, and if you are in fact getting proper voltage to the end of the purple wire when you test it, then more than likely you need to clean the contacts on the solenoid. Had the same problem for an entire winter because I was too lazy to clean them, would use a single tire iron to trip the starter w/the key in the ON position. Once it got warmer I cleaned the contacts with a small wire wheel and it was fine...

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

After testing the terminal with the purple wire(still attached) it shows that it definitely isn't getting full power. I tested the yellow wires inside the car at both the clutch safety switch and the the connector for the park/neutral switch and it has about 10-11volts. But for whatever reason the purple wire isn't getting that much at the starter. It's also a new mini starter and when I installed it I had to put a new ring connector on the purple wire so there shouldn't be any corrosion.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Can't do that, you have to disconnect the purple wire from the solenoid then test the wire again. If it isn't anywhere near 12 volts (unattached) then trace it back and check for a kink in the wire somewhere, if it is close to 12 volts though then it's your solenoid...

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

The purple wire is getting right around 10volts. So does that mean I got a crap starter?

travis401

iTrader: (1)

purple wire should get a full 12v. it youre only getting 10v either your battery is low, or you have a partial ground on the wire. check the purple wire at the bulkhead connector and see if its getting 12v there. if it is, then you def have a partial ground.

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

The battery I was using was low. Both the battery and the purple wire had 10v. But even when I put my battery from my truck(starts easily definitely not dead) it still doesn't crank.

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

I've pointing to a bad starter solenoid this whole entire time. Try a new one, and see...

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

Will do, thanks for the help guys.

travis401

iTrader: (1)

agreed, if the purple wire has the same voltage as the battery when you turn the key, then its got to be something with the starter.

dabomb6608

iTrader: (3)

I will be contacting the place I got the starter today. It has a lifetime warranty so there should be any problems.