Quick Electrical ? -> Starter

[Ryan from Ohio]

Ok I just got done with putting a new 3100 into a 97 Buick Century.

My starter was good no problems with old motor. New motor does run as they started it @ the junk yard for me.

As soon as I put the negative wire on the battery it begins to crank over. No key in the ignition. It does not start like this however.

I have the purple wire on its own terminal with an 8mm nut. I have to smaller wires and one largte red wire on the other starter bolt.

I have one large wire and I believe 3 smaller wires on the transmission ground.

I will note I believe there was another wire grounded on the rear side of the transmission bolt up, but I can not find any wires? I know my 88 Beretta 2.8 has this as I distinctly remember doing it. I cant remember for sure if this car has/had something there. But I know the bolt is there...


HELP

[grandprixgtp_91]

you probably have a bad silenoid , they can get jacked up easy if they get banged around, or you have 2 wires touching. gotta check it out

Jake

[tractorman]

Remove that purple wire with the 8mm nut from the solenoid, then try hooking up the battery cable again. If the motor cranks with that purple wire disconnected, then you got a stuck solenoid.

If the motor does not crank when you hook up the negative battery cable (with purple wire removed)... then that's just wierd. Maybe you could have some wires in the wrong place or something... but I can't imagine WHY it would do that.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Thats the only possibilities?

But my wirring sounds correct?

I would take a picture but I dont think I could get my camera in there correctly.

[grandprixgtp_91]

its more than likely your silenoid, ive seen it happen before, even on new silenoids, the only thing that is gonna turn that starter over is putting juice through the purple wire, so you can check to see if you got power running through the purple wire and find out why but im willing to bet you got a bad silenoid

Jake

[Ryan from Ohio]

Ack!

I will have a look at it tomorrow night then. That really sucks as I was hoping to have this car done tonight...

[Ryan from Ohio]

Ok problem resolved.

Turns out the large gauge wire has some sort of orientation tab that was hitting the purple wire causing it to turn over but not start.