I just bought a 1989 TA 305 TBI for a good price I think and it wont turn over. It did at first and then I kept trying then it quit. I put a new battery in it and retried it. I also watched the security light: it lit for two seconds then went out. I was wondering if it was possibly a relay problem. Where is my starter relay, anyway?

 

Have you replace the ignition control module ? Its under the dizzy, this will keep your car from starting.

 

Does the TA have the anti theft? I once found myself stranded because one of the wires broke in the colum. you have to pull the steering wheel and disassemble until you get to the little torque bolt that holds the ignition in. thats where your break would be. it HAS to be sodered to keep same resistance.

while your down there, make sure everything on the starter it tight and not corroded

get a long peice of wire and strip it back about an inch.... wrap it tightly around the exciter post on starter (small post). make sure its not grounding to anything. Bring your long wire out from under the car and touch it to your positive on the battery. this will tell you if your starter is good. if you would rather try to jump it with a screwdriver then do so but its tight getting to the starter and your chancing grounding it out.

if your starter is good i would assume its the pass key (anti theft) I have a 89 camaro. I assume the T/A also has that.

 

No, I just got the car friday and havent spent much time on it but Im trying to familiarize myself with it. I did own a 91 v6 some time ago, but it seems quite different. By the way, whats the "dizzy"? thanks
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yes, It has antitheft, but it seemed to be working. It did light up for two seconds and go out. The car was cranking then I released the key and tried again and it wouldnt crank. I

 

Yes, It has antitheft, but it seemed to be working. It did light up for two seconds and go out. The car was cranking then I released the key and tried again and it wouldnt crank. I will check the starter as you mentioned though. Thats a good idea. Thanks

 

doesnt mean its not the theft. i took my friend 5 blocks up the street so he could grab sumthing from home and when i turned the ignition forward again ... nothing. i had power. my check lights come on and went back off but the car no longer would turn over. the theft wires turn with the ignition and over time the will wear out and break.

 

Check all the connections between the starter and battery, as well as solenoid wires. Jump the solenoid wire to power with ignition on see if the car will start or at least crank. If cranks but does not start (assuming it has plenty of fuel and proper spark) you have a VATS problem. Easy to solve - more than one way of doing it. If it doesnt do anything your starter solenoid might be bad, or wiring leading to it.

Good luck.

 

Thanks you guys. I have replaced the starter after all. I followed the wiring starting at easiest point that I know, which was the selector switch. I found the voltage at the switch when i turned the key at the green and purple wires. Then I went under to the starter and presto. Voltage was present but no crank available. So, it is repaired, sort of. This poor car sat like an old lady in a rockin chair way too long. I found the TBI wasnt getting fuel now. I followed that to the filter and removed it. I found no fuel pressure. Poor me. I have to now replace the fuel filter. I can let you guys know how that goes but I understand there have been many threads on that. Thanks

 

relay might be three of them bunched driver side firewall . you can turn on ignition with your finger on top of relay .. if you feel the click on all threee then they should all be working. i have same problem as i type. vats is my opinion.