I have a newly rebuilt 1989 Firebird Formula with a 305. Finally got everything hooked up and ready to start. Turned the key, got power, but absolutely no crank. My security light is not on. I have verified that my key is a #9 VATS code with a resistance of 3000 Ohms. I tested the resistance at the VATS wires from the ignition cylinder and they read the same resistance with the key inserted in the off position and run position. So I ruled out the the key or the wires from the cylinder being the issue. Still no crank. Bypassed the starter enable relay and still no crank. Battery is good. Alternator is about 1 1/2 years old. Tested the starter itself while hooked up. I have 12V at the signal wire with the key turned to start. I have 0V during a voltage drop test from the power side on the starter with the key turned to start. I rewired and cleaned all my fusible link connections to the cluster block near the radiator. I suspected the starter solenoid switch as the issue source because I tore it apart and it looked damaged inside. Replaced that and hooked everything back up again and still no crank like before. I am at a loss here. Any help is appreciated. I'm going to try a bench test on the starter some time this week to rule out the starter motor and solenoid completely.

 

Are you referring to the purple wire on the solenoid as the signal wire? If you have 12 volts at the solenoid purple wire, the starter should turn. If not, probably bad solenoid or starter, get it checked..

 

I actually don't have a purple wire. The wire that I have hooked up the signal side of the starter runs from the negative battery cable.

 

You have the wrong wire hooked to the small signal post on the solonoid, it should be a small purple wire that is hot when you turn the key to crank. Nothing from the negative post of your battery connects to your starter, trace your wires again to find the signal wire.

 

Oh okay. I forgot to mention that the engine is TBI managed. Does that affect the wiring orientation? I don't have any loose wires that I can see. Where does the purple come from?

 

Doesn't really matter much if it's TBI or TPI, the circuit you are concerned about is the same. Here is a diagram I got from AustinThirdgen, it's for an 89 TBI. HTH!

 

Alrighty. Sweet, thank you for the diagram. So the purple should be coming from near the bell housing since that's where the shifter is. Maybe it got stuck on top of the trans case. I did notice one thing though. In the diagram it shows no other wire from the negative side of the battery except for the 5 gauge wire. My vehicle has another wire next to it that is a 10 gauge wire about 3' in length. I wonder where it goes if not to the starter :\

 

So I removed all the plastic conduit and found that the black wire is actually purple. I traced it back to the NSS to make sure it was the correct wire. I found that near the firewall the wires and insulation had been smashed a little so I rewired that portion of wire thinking that was the issue. Turned the key and still no crank, all same conditions. Checked the VATS module fuse and it is good. I did, although, had a custom chip made for the vehicle. Would it be possible that it could be the problem? What else could it be other than what I have already diagnosed?

 

Well I found it. After tearing apart about 60% of the inside of my vehicle on the driver's side. I cleaned the ignition switch, tested it. Cleaned the NSS and tested it. I found that the yellow wire from the ignition switch had a botched wiring job done to it. It is a 10 gage wire and it had three different butt connectors on it not even the same gage of wire. It had two 5 gage wires spliced to the 10 gage at the end :P Put it all back together (mostly) turned the key and heard that wonderful cranking sound. Thanks for your help guys!

 

Good to hear you found the culprit! Unfortunately, wiring on a 30+ year old car is usually not the best of condition. Good Job!

 

Glad you found it! I hate cleaning up someone else's hack wiring jobs.

 

Me too haha. One more question, unrelated. I pre lubricated my engine about a month or so ago. Should I pre lubricate it again before its first start or will it be okay?

 

Did you get it running after you primed it a month ago? It being new and not yet broke in, I would prime it again.

 

No it didn't run. That's when I ran into the starter problem haha. Yeah I figured it would be a good idea to do it again too, thanks.