So here's the deal, I bought this car off Craig's list last month and got all the mechanical components and what I assume I did the wiring too. The issue I am having is I can't get the engine to crank over. I got a new battery and a multimeter from napa. I tested the voltage to the soleinoid when in stop and start and I didn't get any. All my accessories work such as lights and wipers but the starter won't turn. It is a brand new starter and I even removed it and tested it with a wire shorting it with a battery and it works perfect so I know it isn't the starter. Upon further investigating I found a pretty thick purple and yellow wire going go what looks like the clutch safety so I shorted it with a paperclip but still nothing. Then I found the same purple and yellow wires going to the trans but not plugged in (person I bought it from replaced trans and never plugged it in I guess) so shorted that with a paperclip too. Still nothing. Please help I'm very frustrated!!!!!

P.s. sorry fir such a long post

 

I will post pictures later tonight

Could it be fuses, bad ignition switch, some safety feauture I didn't over ride??

 

Starter wires don't run to trans , if you have those colors there then they should be for a speedo sensor (VSS )

What you need to do is with key in START position check the yellow wire at the clutch switch .
Do you have 12V there?
If no power there you need to check for power on the yellow at the Ign switch in start
Maybe a faulty or out of adjustment switch
If you have power at those places need to use the DVM to check for a broken wire somewhere along the circuit between the Ign switch and the solenoid

 

I have a few updates about my electrical mess. There are a few things I forgot to mension before so here we go.

1. When I first found the clutch safety I shorted together and when I turned the key it cranked over very slowly.
2. My battery is in perfect working order and even tested on another car
3. My engine is not seized as I can crank over with a ratchet and is the same tension as my other car.
4. When I was cranking engine over slowly some smoke came out from the vent on the passenger side dash top.
5. In the pictures you can see behind the clutch pedal there is a little metal "lever" switch (originally mistaken for the css) so maybe the previous owner did some sketchy wiring of a new switch.
6. There are lots of unconnected wires under dash
7. I tested exactly what you told me to do and I got 12v from the yellow wire to css and just for fun tested the wires I was talking about by trans and also got 12v from the yellow when key is in start.
8. When I put the key in I get a coolant light, and a continous buzzing sound until I jiggle the key a little.

Here are some pics any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!!

 

start checking for body, chassis, and engine grounds, then make sure all wiring that are possibly hot are taped until you find their location.

 

So I followed the ground and noticed that the big gauge wire is attached to the frame but over top of paint (not sure if it matters) and the other little ground looks like it is burnt off so I'm wondering if the circuit is properly grounded. I'll post some pics of it when I get home. Thanks for all your help!!!

 

the large guage "ground wire should go to the engine then the little one 10 guage prefered to the body, and a second to the frame. the smoking you saw was a wire somewhere burning up because the power found a parth back to ground that it wasnt supposed to take. this is proly why the motor turns over slow, improper ground

 

I feel for you after seeing those pictures. Some people should not be allowed to work on any part of any car.

 

haha I know but thanks I got the motor to turn over. It was a ground problem! Now to get it started...