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Starter wiring confusing

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Old Jul 26, 2013 | 05:42 PM
  #1  
sotodn1's Avatar
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From: Dover AFB, Delaware
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Starter wiring confusing

I was wondering if anyone had some insight as to what I am doing wrong here. I had three cables going to my starter solenoid. There are three posts on my solenoid. Two larger which are the same size and a spade terminal for the switch, nothing unusual there. Neither of these connect to the battery however. There is a large cable from my positive battery terminal, does this connect to one of the starter posts, but then I would have four cables connected to the solenoid and that doesn't seem right(one cable going to the post is actually two cables in one), so I have no clue. I will definitely see about posting some pictures once my phone is charged up. Hopefully someone has insight into what I am doing wrong
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Old Jul 26, 2013 | 06:48 PM
  #2  
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Re: Starter wiring confusing

Look at the wire ends.

BIG ends = it goes on a BIG terminal; SMALL end = (you do the math).

The car uses the solenoid terminal where the batt cable connects, as the main "binding post" where the car hooks to the batt. All of the wires with BIG ends go there. Might be as many as 3, plus the main batt cable.

The only wire left will be purple (well, started out purple, anyway, might be dull brown or something by now) and has a SMALL end. It is the wire that energizes the starter. It goes to the "S" (Solenoid or Start) terminal, which on a stock starter, is the smallest one nearest to the block.

Can't tell you what you're doing wrong, only, how to do it right.
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Old Jul 27, 2013 | 08:19 AM
  #3  
sotodn1's Avatar
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From: Dover AFB, Delaware
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Starter wiring confusing

Ha Ha got it all figured out now. The only issue I'm having now is starter alignment. There really aren't many ways to bolt the starter up, yet the starter grinds and the bendix gear gets stuck.
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Old Jul 27, 2013 | 10:18 AM
  #4  
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From: Mid West
Car: '87 Camaro
Engine: '92 Carb'd 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: factory stock
Re: Starter wiring confusing

Get a few shims. Get a paper clip. Straighten the paper clip.
Put a shim in.
Pull the bindex to the flywheel.
Put the paper clip in between the bindex tooth & the flywheel valley.
Paper clip should just fit between tooth & valley.
Adjust as needed by adding or removing shims.
BTW...---
Disconnect battery so you dont ground against exhaust or frame.
Youtube search, maybe theres a vid
Good luck
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Old Jul 27, 2013 | 03:55 PM
  #5  
sotodn1's Avatar
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From: Dover AFB, Delaware
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Starter wiring confusing

Thanks alot bud, I will so just that. Gotta Google this some more. When I pull the bendix out, it rotates and strikes the flexplate and doesn't engage sometimes.
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Old Jul 27, 2013 | 05:16 PM
  #6  
t-top havoc's Avatar
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From: Mid West
Car: '87 Camaro
Engine: '92 Carb'd 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: factory stock
Re: Starter wiring confusing

How To Shim A GM Starter
By Powermaster
Youtube

Sorry I cant paste the link...not too familiar with the android system lol!!
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Old Jul 28, 2013 | 01:22 PM
  #7  
sotodn1's Avatar
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 108
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From: Dover AFB, Delaware
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Starter wiring confusing

Hey thanks for the info guys!
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