HELP starter problem
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
HELP starter problem
So I got a new starter, bolted it on, hooked the two wire leads back up to it. And when I go to plug the negative battery cable back in, I get massive sparks. I immediately unhook the battery, check my fuses-they're good- What did I do? did I miss a connection? do i have grounds screwed up? All I did was take the old starter off and put the new one one? Did I get a faulty starter? PLease Help! 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
It sure sounds like you got a wire or two hooked up wrong.
There are no grounds to hook up. THAT is likely the problem.
RACE ON!!!
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
do i have grounds screwed up?
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
I'll go over the wiring again... but their are only 2 connections on the solenoid... Maybe one of the wires are touching something it shouldn't... The more I think about it, the more I think I got a faulty starter... If I can't figure it out, I'll take the starter back and have them test it.... Any other ideas of what to look for? 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Not really. It is pretty straight forward. What "do i have grounds screwed up?", did you hook up? The odds of a bad starter are slim, but...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
but with sparks like that it usually indicates a "dead short" (as it was described to me), right? I'm going to disconnected both wires going to the solenoid, clean them up as good as possible, make absolutely certain they are not touch anything or each other, and try and plug the battery in again... I didnt' do any other work besides the starter, and everything worked (electrically) prior to this project... that leads me to believe that it absolutely must be the starter or the connections to it....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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Thought I'd let anyone know, that mighta seen this thread, it was my own carelessness with reinstallation that caused the problem. I missed what my manual refers to as the "starter moter grounding strap." I just forget to connect it on the new starter. Without that the solenoid must have become the ground.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
It is great to have a report back. I'm glad you've got it solved. But what is the "starter moter grounding strap."? You don't mean the brace at the front of the starter to the block, do you?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
It is great to have a report back. I'm glad you've got it solved. But what is the "starter moter grounding strap."? You don't mean the brace at the front of the starter to the block, do you?
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
yeah yeah i know.... I overlooked the most obvious thing
anyway... how can i describe it...
on the solenoid, on the larger terminal post- two large wires plug into it. One (i don't have my manual with me at the) I'm assuming comes directly from the positive side of the battery. The other wire (it is a very thick wire, the "starter motor grounding strap") comes from above the starter, and I happened to push it in a way that hid it when i put the new starter on.
anyway... how can i describe it...
on the solenoid, on the larger terminal post- two large wires plug into it. One (i don't have my manual with me at the) I'm assuming comes directly from the positive side of the battery. The other wire (it is a very thick wire, the "starter motor grounding strap") comes from above the starter, and I happened to push it in a way that hid it when i put the new starter on.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
The other wire (it is a very thick wire, the "starter motor grounding strap") comes from above the starter, and I happened to push it in a way that hid it when i put the new starter on.
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
And what does it connect to? Do I understand you correctly, to say it goes on the large stud of the starter?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
The large one goes directly to positive post of battery. The small one goes to ignition or vats then ignition actually. Theres no ground that I'm aware of. The ground is established when you mount it. You do have to be careful that your trans cooler lines and EGR line that goes to catalytic converter arent touching either the large or small one as either will cause the shorting you describe.
Last edited by skateparkdave; Oct 18, 2004 at 10:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
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Likes: 4
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
The large one goes directly to positive post of battery. The small one goes to ignition or vats then ignition actually. Theres no ground that I'm aware of. The ground is established when you mount it. You do have to be careful that your trans cooler lines and EGR line that goes to catalytic converter arent touching either the large or small one as either will cause the shorting you describe.
cause that's what I thought.
I was wrong as well.
the solution was - small wire on small stud of the solenoid. Two large wires on the large stud of the solenoid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
Yeah well, You're Wrong.
cause that's what I thought.
I was wrong as well.
the solution was - small wire on small stud of the solenoid. Two large wires on the large stud of the solenoid.
cause that's what I thought.
I was wrong as well.
the solution was - small wire on small stud of the solenoid. Two large wires on the large stud of the solenoid.
Among my several good Helms manuals I have, I also have a Haynes manual that I dont value much so much. It trys to cover 84-96 ...but, it does picture a starter with three hookups, a large stud thats labled "battery and electrical system hot wire terminal". Then a smaller one labled "ignition switch terminal" and a 3rd small one that has a small strap from solenoid to starter labled "starter motor strap" and I guess it's a ground between solenoid to starter and if you had any of the other wires (which are either hot or ignition activated hot) hooked to this than of course you had fireworks when you attempted to hook up battery. I bet thats what you have and what you did. 
Important thing is, you figured it out, I guess.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
Hmmmm, well ok, whatever you say. I guess your 85 is different than my 90 and CFI-EFI's 84 as well. Thats odd. Among my several good Helms manuals I have, I also have a Haynes manual that I dont value much so much. It trys to cover 84-96 ...but, it does picture a starter with three hookups, a large stud thats labled "battery and electrical system hot wire terminal". Then a smaller one labled "ignition switch terminal" and a 3rd small one that has a small strap from solenoid to starter labled "starter motor strap" and I guess it's a ground between solenoid to starter and if you had any of the other wires (which are either hot or ignition activated hot) hooked to this than of course you had fireworks when you attempted to hook up battery. I bet thats what you have and what you did.
Important thing is, you figured it out, I guess.
Among my several good Helms manuals I have, I also have a Haynes manual that I dont value much so much. It trys to cover 84-96 ...but, it does picture a starter with three hookups, a large stud thats labled "battery and electrical system hot wire terminal". Then a smaller one labled "ignition switch terminal" and a 3rd small one that has a small strap from solenoid to starter labled "starter motor strap" and I guess it's a ground between solenoid to starter and if you had any of the other wires (which are either hot or ignition activated hot) hooked to this than of course you had fireworks when you attempted to hook up battery. I bet thats what you have and what you did. Important thing is, you figured it out, I guess.
I thought like you did
that's how i got the fireworks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
yep, you're wrong too
I thought like you did
that's how i got the fireworks.
I thought like you did
that's how i got the fireworks.
It's all good though. I'm glad you got it fixed.
Peace, I'm out....
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Irwindale Ca
I got spooked once when hooking my battery back up. It was because my door was open and hood was up. I got to agree with skatepark. Hooking up a battery is cut and dry. You have a battery post, solenoid post, and starter motor post. Solenoid receives juice when key is turned and electromechanically connects the other two with that infamous click. keep wrenchin 
