Cascade Crew

nonsensekid20 · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:59 am Post subject: Chevy Cavalier starter wiring

Alright, so a friend of mine has a 98 Chevy Cavalier. It has the Camaro v6 starter, and one would think wiring a starter is an easy task. Except for when you have 4 wires and 2 studs. She's tried every possible combination with no luck, but I have a theory that I found on the internet. Someone said the car was recalled and a relay was installed. So is it possible that she needs to put in a relay to get it right? I would think it would have a starter switch from the ign, power, and a ground. Anyone have any clue what's going on with this and how to fix it?

chevymad · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject:

One wire will go to the start post, all the others should go to the battery cable lug.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:27 am Post subject:

there is two wires that come off the battery positive side, a big like 2 guage wire and a small ~12 guage wire. the big one is on the starter, the little one we cant figure out where it goes the negative goes from the battery to the block and down by the starter there are some wires which i believe are from fusible links and there is the purple wire thats on the small starter post and a red one thats on the big post. and there is also another lingering wire, ill try to get some pics to help

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject:

The small wire off of the positive terminal is going to go to either then fan or fuel pump.

The power feed wires that go on the starter hot lug are not "from" fusible links, they are fusible links. If they aren't then there's an issue.

Xophertony · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject:

that purple wire to your starter.. THAT should be your "START" wire. When that wire gets electricity the starter should go. You can test the starter by bridging with a screwdriver that wire (or the stud it's bolted too) and the big red battery hot stud on the starter. If it does not crank, the starter is bad.

assuming it cranks, follow it around the car and find where it is broken. it should run through the gear selector, or the clutch safety switch, then on to the ignition switch on the column.

The ignition switch on the column is a frequent culprit.