Hey everyone,
I had the engine harness off last week. I have everything hooked back up and I go to start the car. The dash lights light up, headlights work, but the car doesnt start... Doesnt even turn over. So I get out of the car and look down.....SMOKE!! The smoke was coming from the starter solenoid. What could cause this? Im not sure if the solenoid started burning up when I turned the key or if it did it when I hooked up the battery.

The only thing I can think of is that when I disconnected the starter wires last week, I think that I may have twisted one of the large threaded studs coming out of the solenoid. But I am not sure because it was pretty dark out. I am hoping that caused the problem. That way I can just go out and get a new starter. I dont want to put a new one on just to have the same thing happen again!

 

Are you absolutely certain the wires went back on the correct terminals? Power is obviously going through the starter, since you have interior lights and what not.

 

Yea, id say you probably have the wires crossed

 

Ive got the small purple wire hooked up to the small stud, the starter motor wire hooked up to a large stud all by itself, and everything else hooked up with the large battery wire to the other large stud. Is this right?

 

Isn't there usually two small studs? Mine had one that was for the ignition, and the other for a remote start. The large stud closest to the pass. side should be the power from the battery, and the other one for the solenoid.

 

Turned out to be the solenoid. I had it hooked up right, but when I disconnected it, I cracked part of the plastic solenoid housing. I put a new starter on it and now it starts & runs great!!