starter/wiring problem
 

i changed an engine out awhile back but never finished up. so i just started working on it again. when i hooked up the battery it started turning the motor over. now at this time i did not even have the wires that go through the fire wall hooked up under the dash yet. so i got all that connected checked my started connections and relay and hooked the power up again. it did not start but when i tried to turn the key it just clicks like a dead battery, click click click click... when i touch a screw driver to both connections on the starter it starts turning over non stop again till i pull the battery wire out. so i changed my starter thinking that was the problem but it is doing the same thing.

any ideas?

what the heck could cause this?

i have a remote start could this be causing a problem. also the computer and battery where un hooked for a few months could it have lost the tune or anything?

anybody know anything that can help

The starter takes two wires-one from the battery (to supply cranking power) and one from the ignition switch. The small, purple wire from the ignition switch has 12v on it only when your turn the key to START. That info and the schematics on my Tech Page should be what you need to figure out the issue. What effect your remote start might be having on the normal operation could come into play, as well.

i check the purple wire that has 12v when the key is turned and it has 0v when the key is off. seems like thats the only thing electrical that could cause this???

would a worn out key chip in the key or something in vats cause this? any ideas to test to figure it out? im still stuck

Clicking is always caused by not enough current. However there are a number of causes of not enough current. Poor connections, low or bad battery. Etc......

Refer to the drawing on shoes page that he alluded to. It says 95 but it is the same as the 94 seen here: http://shbox.com/1/starter_charging_95.jpg

If it rotates by jumping 12 volts to the terminal with the purple wire as you did with the screwdriver but won't with the key. You have a current issue from the key to the starter.

When ever working with a circuit of some size, always deal with 1/2 at a time. I suggest jumping the TDR yellow to purple wire and try the key again. If that produces poor results, let us know.

ive got 3 wires going to my starter. 1 the battery power wire. the other 2 go to the small post 1 is about 12ga Red wire, 2 is about 16-18ga black w/white stripe. is it not suppose to go there and be grounded instead? the red wire has 11.9V when the key is in the start position. the black with white has no Voltage anytime.

Edit:
Ok i just went and tested it and the black with white is a ground. it has 12.2V when my other probe is on the battery +... so where does this wire ground to? the starter ground post or somewhere on the frame?

starter turns over fine now that the black/white wire is not connected. but its a ground what is it for and where does it go?

Right here. It is a PCM ground. Hope you did not fry anything. Post #4 of mine indicated there were only two wires supposed to go to the starter.

i hope not to. i turned it over probably 5 times while it was wired wrong. it turns over now fine and everything as far as lights and things work. it wont run until i get the new tune loaded so i guess ill find out in a few days.

Thank you Shoebox. your the man and your site is great i use it all the time, and it would have solved this problem along time ago if i payed more attention.

starter wiring
 

connecting the ground wire for the pcm to the solenoid will run 12 volts back thru the pcm ground and fry it. bought an lt1 not running and after days of trouble shooting found the pcm ground on the starter. after the grounds in the pcm have burnt out, the starter will work untill that ground is repaired, then it won't. then the cycle starts again. in my case it was the pcm and the wiring harness. this happens more often than you would think.