My old starter had a post for the positive cable and some other cable that can only fit on that post, than two smaller posts, one for a purple wire, another for the yellow wire.

The new starter has 2 large posts, one for the battery, one that is connected to the starter case by a braided steal line, i can assume this is a ground, than a single small post.

My initial try was to put both the yellow and purple on this post, the unused large post to the battery. THe starter will turn, but not engage, and it continues to turn as the key returns to the ign state.

I'm guessing that the i have it wired wrong, because im nearly positive the starter should stop spinning and disengage once the car "starts" and instead it continues spinning.

I'm guessing the motor is getting a constant current due to the ignition or hei wire being in the worng spot, and whatever needs to be getting power to engage temporarily is getting no power.

Any ideas, do you need pictures?

Tie the yellow back, install the purple on the 'signal' post. If you're using HEI you aren't using the yellow anyway. It supplies +12V to the coil during cranking for a points style ign.

you think that will solve it, i hope its not "broke" in terms of not engaging, i really would hate to have to get under there and pull it again :(

changed it like you said, starter wont engage :(

well i read an article that says the starter is working, except hte solenoid might not be. which to me means i could still have it wired wrong.


Can someone confirm:

purple to small post, red bat cable to large post #1, large post #2 has a braided steal line that goes into the starter.

also there is another wire that goes along with teh bat cable.

Yellow tied off.

Help i want to make sure its not just hte wiring before i go through the hassle of pulling this.

what is the "other wire that goes along with the bat cable"? Where is it coming from, what is it for? The stock wiring harness should only have a yellow and a purple going down and the big cable from the bat. With an HEI you do not need the yellow wire.

theres 2 wires coming into a large connecter that fits over the batt cable shaft perfectly.

I have no clue where they go, teh wiring on this car is a hack job so its a matter of if it aint broke dont touch it.

I can try removing them.

Heres more information, maybe u can tell me if the starter is just bad:

The gear slides out, engages with teh flywheel, however the shaft turns freely of the gear, so the gear doesnt' spin, and therefore not he flywheel.
The gear slides out properly but the shaft doesn't engage with it.

I'm guessing the starter is bad?

Is this a new starter? or new to you (used)?

The second wire goingto the larger post on the starter is more than likely your charge wire from your alternator. You have not mentioned the brand or type of starter either.

its supposidly new, but possibly just rebuilt, a delco starter from a place that specializes in starters.

Yeah that makes sense, probably is the alternator wire.

But is the starter bad?

theres 2 wires coming into a large connecter that fits over the batt cable shaft perfectly.

I have no clue where they go, teh wiring on this car is a hack job so its a matter of if it aint broke dont touch it.

I can try removing them.

Heres more information, maybe u can tell me if the starter is just bad:

The gear slides out, engages with teh flywheel, however the shaft turns freely of the gear, so the gear doesnt' spin, and therefore not he flywheel.
The gear slides out properly but the shaft doesn't engage with it.

I'm guessing the starter is bad?

sounds like the bendix is bad on the starter. i'd take it back and get another

yay, tomorrow morning should be great.


gotta love it when you accomplish so much for it to be diminished by something so little :(

Had A Similar Starter Issue With My Chevelle A Few Summers Ago . Let Me Know If You Need A Diagram For The Wiring And I Will Copy One Up And Post It Or E Mail It To You I Have Complete Diagram For The Whole Car So If You Need Any Of It Just Hollar At Me:D

What resolved your issue?

I'm getting a feeling its not the wiring.

Does the gear not engage until it fully slides out? I'm wondering if the flywheel is not letting it slide out fully, hence it wont engage. Do you think this is the case? It deffinately isn't coming out "fully" from the looks of it. Does this mean i need to shim the starter a bit?

gear is engage via a clutch (bedix) it should spin the flywheel anytime it meshes the 2 gears are meshed ( wether it be fully or partially) the bendix is designed to slip in case of a back fire so your starter doesnt explode. when it goes bad the gears will mesh, the starter will spin, but it wont spin the gear. you can by a new bendix at any parts store theyre usually around $10-12. if the starter is engaging, motor is spinning, but the gear isnt moving then the bendix is bad...

the guy at this starter shop was cool, he gave me a test light to check to make sure the starter was grounded, and he gave me another starter identical to this one in case things don't work out. Everything was wired right and grounded so i swapped starters, thing fired right up :D

yay 4spd.

happy to hear your running again glad it all was a minor issue . now do me a favor and go burn some rubber for me since mine is still down .LOL :hurray: