I've just installed a newly built 355 into my 94 m6. When I took it apart in November I meticuloulsy labled all of the wires and took pictures of all connections.

I have everything hooked up and APARENTLY in it's right place.

Here's the problem:
When I connect the negative battery terminal, the starter cranks the motor. The ignition switch is in the off position and the clutch pedal IS NOT depressed.

There are two wires connected to the selenoid. The heavy gauge positive to the large terminal, and the smaller gage purple wire is connected to the very small terminal. A wire is connected from a third terminal that runs into the starter motor. Another small ground wire comes from the harness and connects to the engine block. there is nothing else.

Since it is an M6, the starter cannot turn over unless the clutch pedal is pushed in.

Anybody have any ideas.

 

As long as nothin is shorting the purple wire to the large hot wire...I would say your solenoid is stuck..You need to replace that or the whole starter..You could take it to an auto parts store and test it to be sure.

 

The thing that puzzles me is that the clutch pedal needs to be depressed to start. There should be a relay for that, do you think it might be something with that relay?

Doesn't the solenoid need "Keyed" power to turn over?

 

I've had this problem! one of the wire terminals (smaller gauge wire) end rings has a tab on it which is meant to keep it from spinning when the nut is tightened down on the post. I accidently installed the terminal wrong (wrong angle) so that the tab actually made contact with a metal portion opposite side (pos/neg) of the relay circuit.. as a result when I went to install the battery, the car bucked forward as the relay was shorted out and the starter receiving full power...

The wire and terminal I'm referring to can be seen in a pic on Shoebox's website:

http://shbox.com/1/starter.jpg

Its the upper relay wire.

Maybe you did something similar?

 

That was it!!! Thanks alot!

The big wire on mine had the tab on it. It was out of the keeper groove and the tab was touching the small wire giving it power.

Thanks again!

 

Glad that fixed your problem!