Just replaced the solenoid on my 89 iroc tpi and now it won't crank. I used a conrad solenoid and hooked all three "loop" connectors to the positive stud. I hooked the negative to the right-hand stud if you're viewing the solenoid with the positive on top and the starter connection on the bottom:

POS

Stud Stud

To Starter

In that diagram I connected the ground to the "Stud" on the right. Is this correct? Thanks in advance.

 

There is no negative connection to the starter, they are both pos. it'll get the negative from the body of the starter that's grounded to the motor. I don't remember the colors of the top of my head but there are two studs, the thiner wires from the ignition switch should be connected to the smaller(thin) stud and the thicker wire coming directly from the battery should go to the bigger stud.

 

Well I have the three orange/red "big" ones going to the big stud, and the black one going to the small - like it was on the solenoid I took off. I tightened the nut on the big stud and the car started once, but nothing since. I can jump the car from the solenoid with a screwdriver so right now I'm troubleshooting the wiring. Thanks, and any other advice is much appreciated!

 

Check for loose or broken wires. I put a starter in a few weeks ago and had almost identical symptoms to what you have. I had to strip the old connectors off the accesory wires and put on new ones. Also did the wire to the battery. Corrosion is a beotch. Anyway, that solved my problem.

 

use a multimeter to make sure that one of the wires is switching 12v when you turn the key to start, I had this problem with my 86 when the contacts in the steering column wore out.