So oddest thing happened yesterday. I pulled all of my cars out of the garage and then pulled the Trans Am into the center stall to work on it. Installed a new wiper motor cause the circuit board went out on the other and it wouldnt return to park when switched off. I added a set of airlift drag bags in the rear coils to help my rear end from compressing on launch, and then mocked up my new wilwood calipers and rotors to fab a bracket to mount the caliper.
When all finished up for the day, I go to start the car and I get nothing, no crank. I have power inside, my battery is a new yellow top, everything connection wise is new. I have had the signal wire to the starter come loose prior so I check it and its fine. Jum the starter poles and it spins fine as well (this starter is a high tq mini and is also pretty new)
baffled I check it all over again, connections are good etc...
I try cranking it again. nothing, all accys power up like usual, but when key is turned to the start position, I get nothing, no sounds, etc... I did notice that my key didnt feel normal, seemed kind of spongy when pushing into the start position.
I pulled the starter crank signal wire off the solenoid and connect it to a test light, when the key is in the start position, I get nothing, doesnt light up.

I dropped the column, tested power to the ignition switch, and there is power going in on the main feed (red or pink wire iirc), the yellow (which is the one i believe sends out the crank signal) has nothing when the switch is put into the "crank" position.

Besides the switch is there anything else I should be looking at that could have just failed?

I have the switch pulled out and took it apart, didnt see anything that looked like an obvious failure, but it did look to be the original.

I am picking up a switch from the parts store on the way home, if this doesnt cure the issue, where should I look next? I am pretty familiar with wiring and such, so chasing down this issue shouldnt be too tough, but if there is a known failure spot to look that would be great.

I've pretty much traced it to somewhere between the ignition switch and the starter signal cable, so what are my go to spots between? Wire colors/locations would be awesome

Fusable links...not sure if there is more than one on the starter signal line or if its fused, if so where is it fused/fusable linked at?


fyi, car is an '82
was an auto, converted to manual. The "nuetral safty" (the auto trans version) switch etc... has been bypassed so I am good looking elsewhere for that.


I'll buy a beer for anyone who correctly guesses the issue

 

Be sure your ground straps are good. Neg terminal to the chassis, chassis to the block, fire wall to the block. This may be the ticket

 

Considered that, I have one massive braided ground strap from the block to the chassis, and then one 2ga at the battery in the back going to the chassis too. If the new switch doesn't resolve the issue, I think I am gonna look at the safety switch bypass.

 

It was the switch! Case closed

 

Nice