starter wires

[coryatver]

I took my starter off and forgot what wires go where. There are 3 wires, 3 terminals 2 15 mm nuts and a small one. There is a small wire for the small one but I don't know which of the larger terminals are the black and which is the red. The one stud is longer if that helps out any

[turby]

Weren't all 3 of the larger wires on the same terminal together? They should be. Use the terminal the furthest away from the starter.

[coryatver]

No There is only 2 wires the same size. Two same size terminals then a small wire and small terminal. The small one goes on the small one obviously. The 2 larger ones I don't know how they go. I put them on one way and the starter turns as soon as I connect the battery. Put them the other way there is no power at all in the car

[coryatver]

Does anyone know how the wires go on? Its a lumina z34

[turby]

No There is only 2 wires the same size. Two same size terminals then a small wire and small terminal. The small one goes on the small one obviously. The 2 larger ones I don't know how they go. I put them on one way and the starter turns as soon as I connect the battery. Put them the other way there is no power at all in the car

 

I said 3 wires cause I believe there are 2 wires on the one terminal. But anyway, if you look closely at the posts on the starter you should be able to see which ones the wires came off of.

[turby]

Where are you in PA? If you are close enough I could come give you a hand.

[turby]

Here's a pic that may help. With the starter on the car the small wire goes on the terminal closest to the front of the car and the other 2 go on the top terminal.

 

[coryatver]

I live by meadville, PA. My starter looks different than yours. I have 3 terminals and they definitly each had a wire going to each of them. I do have the purple one though which goes to the same spot. I just am not sure I have an all black wire and then a red one that had 2 wires that come together to one connector. Tomorrow I am going to get pics and take my starter to get tested becuase I think it is stuck on now for some reason? Becuase when I try the 2 bigger wires one way the starter stays on. If you try them the other way there is no power to anything in my car. so I think the starter is stuck which is wierd becuase It was fine? The reason I took it off is becuase for the past few months It makes one snap sound when I turn the key. If i turn the key again it snaps again but if i try it a couple more times it will start fine. Sometimes it starts right up other times it doesn't. I though maybe something was wrong with my starter so I took it off to go get tested, I took it to autozone and they said it was fine and I went to put it back on but I forget how the wires went. Thanks for the help.

[coryatver]

Here is a pic of my starter and the wires. There is the purple one, which goes on the small terminal, then there is the red one, and then a black one. The one terminal on the starter is shared with the starter. Anyone know how it goes?

 

[attachment deleted by admin] Removed to free up storage space.

[Pontiac6KSTEAWD]

Both large wire sets go onto the terminal that DOESNT have that brass looking thing that is going into the main body of the started. In the picture above, that would be the one at the very top of the picture. The small wire goes onto that small terminal to the right of the larger terminals.

[turby]

Both large wire sets go onto the terminal that DOESNT have that brass looking thing that is going into the main body of the started. In the picture above, that would be the one at the very top of the picture. The small wire goes onto that small terminal to the right of the larger terminals.

 

Wow. Same exact thing I told him.

[coryatver]

Well I got it working. Thanks a lot for the help. Sorry turby I didn't understand what you ment by the 3 larger ones going on the same one I thought you ment all 3 wires. I understand what you were saying now. Thanks a lot. It still isn't working right though it clicks. I think I need a new ignition.

[Pontiac6KSTEAWD]

If it is clicking, I would be leaning more towards either a jump start, or the starter you are putting in is bad. Find a starter off a 96+ Grand Prix or Regal with a 3100 or 3400. Take taht starter and install it. Much better design, quieter, and takes less power to actually turn over the motor.

 

First take that starter back out, and take it to Autozone and have them test it. They will tell you if its dead or not.. (assuming the guy isnt a dumbass behind the counter)

[coryatver]

Yeah the reason I took it off was to take it there last night and I took it back again today to make sure. It passed all the test and then he ran it again to make sure.

 

What the car does is, when you turn the key to start it clicks one time, even if you hold it. Let the key back and then turn it again and it will click once more. Sometimes the car will start right up. Sometimes it will click and then start right away, sometimes it will click and I will have to keep turning the key and it will click again each time untill it eventually start up.

 

I cleaned all the batter contacts and the starter contacts and the AUX battery post so I have no idea what is going on. I think it is the key becuase it is hard to get in the auxilary and last week it stuck on.

[Pontiac6KSTEAWD]

Replace the starter. It has a dead spot in the solenoid by the sounds of it, or maybe a dead spot in the bendix. Either way, Replacing it, in my opinion, will solve your problem.