Hey there - I am having an issue with a 1989 Camaro 5.0 TBI, auto. I am helping a buddy get his car running and we have an issue.

First - I did several searches as was unable to find any thread with the same problem, so I tried to find it myself and you see where that landed me.

That being said, his car was stolen awhile back and he is trying to get it back to the road. His steering column is all torn up and I am sure that is not helping our issue. The problem is the starter will not engage, so I brought over a meter and checked out what I knew before coming here.

The battery is fully charged reading about 12.34 volt.
The post on the solenoid from the battery reads approximatly the same.
The post with the purple wire reads zero at all ignition postions, including on a start attempt.
I tried to jump the purple wire and when I applied 12 volts it sparked. So I checked continuity to positive and also to ground. I have a continuity on the purple wire post to the ground. So the purple wire is showing a ground out.

Has anyone else had this issue and if so what was the solution? I know I need to check through that purple wire circuit, but what method would yield the quickest results?

Thanks for the help in advance!!

 

Purple at solenoid only has power in START position.
Need to backtrack through starter circuit to the Ign switch to find out where power disappears.
Could be faulty ign switch , neutral switch or bad wiring
Since damage has been done , check for 12V on the starter circuit at ign switch when key in start

The solenoid circuit goes to ground after going through the solenoid windings.
Putting 12V on the solenoid terminal should make the starter work ; if it doesn't you also have a problem with the starter itself

 

There is also a strong possibility of a VATS issue. If the steering column was tore up the Vats wires could have easily have been broken or cut.
I would check that to be sure also.