Hey:

I'm having a little trouble with my LS1 swap. (1984 Trans Am car/ 2002 LS1 engine)

As simple as this sounds, my starter won't work.

Now, I know this:

1- the starter worked in the donor car. I heard the engine start/ run
2- my wiring worked in my car prior to the engine removal.
3- although I have changed this car from an auto to a manual trans, I have bypassed the wiring that plugged into the auto shifter. (I connected the heavy gauge purple and yellow wiring- they made a complete circuit when the shifter would be in park and neutral. I also connected the other 2 smaller gauge wires , orange and black, that also made a circuit in park and neutral)

4- I believe i hooked all my starter wires to the starter. (same ones from before- they're all to the solenoid post just as I would have hooked on any typical smallblock starter) I have the battery cable hooked up to the larger post.

and it still doesn't work.

5- I had the wiring redone over at speartech and while there's a grey wire for the clutch (safety switch) this is currently unplugged. I was told I can leave it like this and it shouldn't affect anything.

I checked fuses and they seem to be Ok. My fuel pump comes on when I turn the key to "on", but nothign when I turn the key to "start".

so, how can I check this?

I have a volt meter and I'm thinking I should get under the car and look to see if I have voltage going to the starter.

what about trying to bypass the solenoid to see if the starter is woorking?

any other ideas/ suggestions?

the only other things I can think of is the old wiring for the old smallblock engine. maybe because some of this is unplugged now (open) it's not allowing the starter to work?

There is the "batt" wire that used to go to the old distributor. that's just unplugged now. same for the old wiring to the alternator.

any ideas or suggestions would be of great help.

Thanks,

-BV

 

Is the little purple wire hooked up to the starter?? If you want to turn on the starter i would get a long screw driver or somthing with a plastic or rubber handle and touch the solenoid and the cable going to the battery. Should work

 

Check the starter enable relay, it is behind the drivers side kick panel, around the hood release latch. You mat have to bypass it if you havent done anything with the vats.