I am wanting to prime my engine without all accesories on. The starter is not turning, and I cannot hear the solenoid trying to go. I have all main wires hooked up - Alt, Starter, engine grounds - but some accesory wires are not - no TB, fans, o2's, plugs, and I only removed the ignition fuse and ecm ign fuse. So is my starter just dead, or does computer want all wiring hooked up first?

Also Haynes says to test the starter by putting jumper wire between hot terminal and the "S" terminal on the solenoid. I assume S terminal is the other small wire that is NOT the ground wire. Will this work?

Thanks.

 

If you are planning on priming the motor by turning it over I think it's defeating the purpose. Generally you prime an engine through the dist. hole with a modified old dist. or the primer tool. Since LT1's don't have a hole in the manifold, I have always primed mine right before installing the intake manifold. Hope this helps.

 

with the intake off i use a flathead screwdriver with it rigged to my snapon screw gun works perfect

 

I know, I wish I would have told my engine builder this. But now the engine is installed with accy bracket on, no radiator or TB. I guess I'm going to install everything and try again (w/o spark plugs of course.)

I tried "jumping" with another car for more voltage, and my dash voltmeter read great, so I'm thinking I may have a bad starter.

 

I also do agree that just rotating your engine without spark or fuel just to prime is not (in my opinion) helping you much. I feel the best thing is get it started right away that way you will get the appropriate oil pressure in the quickest time.

When I pull mine out I ensure my battery is charged right up, turn the key ensure the injectors have primed up and start it watch oil pressure carefully, check for leaks and continue watching guages.

 

Plug the fuses back in, then try it

-Shannon

 

Maybe your problem is the wire you are thinking is a ground wire. There is no other small wire on the starter other than the purple wire. The black/white wire is a ground, but does not go on the starter. It goes to a lug on the block, under the #6 spark plug.

 

Yes, you cna test the starter by jumping the hot wire witht he "other" purple wire...with it jumped if it cranks then you know the started is good and you have an electrical problem somewhere. Do not keep the starter jumped and try to prime the engine up like that htough, only attempt ot short it out liek that very briefley or you may fry the starter if it is good.

 

woops! I thought I saw the wire go the block, but looked again and yes, it is not attached to starter. Anyway I plugged in the ECM IGN fuse - which runs fuel pump too - and removed my fuel line before the filter, let fuel dump into fuel can, and cranked it over. Turns out that was the problem, meaning fuse had to be plugged in, starter was fine. At least it made me pull apart my starter and clean it, for it was very dirty.

Unfortunately as this is my first engine rebuild and install, my engine builder plugged my oil pressure sensor hole and left open the hole at the back of the block - thinking that was where it went. After visiting Shoebox's site, I saw where my oil press sensor went for a 93. I was too ignorant and hasty to not see the open hole, so when I cranked engine, oil came spurting out!

Anyway I plugged it and oil pressure built in no time.

So for any other 1993 owner's, my experience was removing just the ignition fuse in the engine fuse box, and plugging hole at back of block!

Thanks all for your help.

Nate.