So I go to turn on my car, engine turns a couple times then dies. I try again and NOTHING. I pop the hood, and a little smoke is rising in the area of the distributor/ passenger side header. I turn the key to accessory and I have music and power to the interior. I turn it forward to turn over the engine and absolutely nothing.



I found this as well when I popped the hood. (Behind the headlight, directly above battery) If you cant see this wire has fried/frayed and is only held by a couple of the copper wires now. What is this wire for? Is this where my problem lies? It goes to the negative on my battery and then in a wire in front of the block towards the passenger side.

 

does it bolt to the body? ground maybe?

 

Yeah it was just another ground. I am getting power but doesn't want to crank. I broke out the multimeter and it says I'm getting 12 volts all the way to the starter.

 

That's a body ground direct to the battery. If your large battery ground cable has a poor connection, the secondary path is through that poor little body ground cable - the starter draws way too much current for it to handle.

Check the condition of your large battery ground cable.

 

Large ground is good, and not sure if I mentioned but I get power when key is at accessory. Like radio and windows and mirrors are good, but the engine just wont crank. I don't even know if the starter is working but I'm reading voltage going into the starter.

 

Starter blew FTL! haha.

 

I replaced it and I'm up and running. Thanks.