I was wondering if someone could explain to me how my car starts (electrically). I want to know where the main wires(battery, ignition, etc...) run and what each thing does to get the starter motor turning over. Thanks!

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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
SIX-speed
open 3.73's
2 1/4 stock catback
I love pissing those LS1's off
My Formula

All your base are belong to us.

 

Hmmm, well, it all starts at the battery cable, positive to the starter solenoid, with another wire on that terminal taking power to the ignition switch (and headlights, dome light, etc.). When you turn the ignition to start, voltage is transferred by the ignition switch to another wire that goes to a safety switch on the clutch pedal (which must be depressed to make contact), then another wire to the windings of the starter solenoid. When the windings are energized, a magnetic field is created, which pulls the solenoid plunger back, which pushes a switch between two terminals in the back of the solenoid; one from the battery cable, the other to the starter motor. This puts battery voltage to the motor, spinning it over. The solenoid and starter motor have to have a path to ground, which is accomplished by the fact that they're bolted onto the engine block, and the engine block is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.

While the juice is flowing to the starter, the ignition switch is also putting voltage to the ignition system through a different wire.

The wires are contained in harnesses; for instance the vehicle power wire and the starter solenoid wire run next to each other in a harness that goes into the main engine harness (typically).

That's pretty general. Did you need more specific information, like wire size and color?

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlock header mufflers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1/94.6 @ 5800' Bandimere.

 

That was freakin perfect! I'm tryin to figure out how to diagnose a short in my car. You are a genius. Thanks!


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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
T56 - SIX-speed
open 3.73's
2 1/4 stock catback
I love pissing those LS1's off
My Formula

All your base are belong to us.