WTF is going on......

[89Suburban]

Blue and green I am sure is for the reverse lights.

This is correct. You need to find the plug that has a purple and yellow wires going into it.

 

[HotRodPC]

No power to the purple wire

Keep in mind, it should only have power with the key in the START position, meaning, you'll need someone to turn and hold the key in the Start/Crank position to test it.

Have you crossed the solenoid with a screwdriver? Go across the big terminal on the solenoid, to the top or under the terminal where the Purple wire should be connected. This is bypassing all your wiring and doing a direct cranking of the starter. If the key is in the ON positon so the ignition gets power, it would probably start if the motor cranked.

 

[89Suburban]

You said you installed a new ignition switch right? Follow the yellow wire coming out of it and it should lead you to what we are trying to find here. Chripes I need a beer.....

 

[uprdn84]

Ill drink one for you.. lol be back let me follow the yellow wire.

 

[uprdn84]

Okay..... no purple and yellow plug in the truck. no yellow wire coming out of ignition switch. tried jumping starter manually. nothing......next.....damn.

 

[89Suburban]

Okay..... no purple and yellow plug in the truck. no yellow wire coming out of ignition switch. tried jumping starter manually. nothing......next.....damn.

I'll be calling you.

 

[uprdn84]

Purple. red pink hot pink orange brown and cream and white stripe. coming from ignition switch.

 

[Jims86]

Purple. red pink hot pink orange brown and cream and white stripe. coming from ignition switch.

Purple is the starter kicker

 

[89Suburban]

My mistake, the yellow wire is for manual transmission. On the blue plug on the ignition switch, the purple wire coming out is the one that needs to run to the small post on starter. That is the wire that should show voltage only when the key is in the "Crank" position. I would just run a new wire from that point through the firewall and to the small post on the starter to eliminate that pieced together hack job wiring you described to me over the phone. Since that original wire is all spliced and pieced together half assed that throws up a big red flag to me. Also the fact that the 2 extra feed wires the go to the big post on the starter are missing also confuses me and points to even more customization by the previous owner. You also mention only getting any voltage readings showing 11+ volts? That should be plenty of voltage to crank that starter. Are you sure the red cable from the battery to the starter is in good condition? There could be corrosion in that cable at the ends hurting the amperage being pumped through the cable, even though it is showing good voltage at the other end.

 

[Jims86]

My mistake, the yellow wire is for manual transmission. On the blue plug on the ignition switch, the purple wire coming out is the one that needs to run to the small post on starter. That is the wire that should show voltage only when the key is in the "Crank" position. I would just run a new wire from that point through the firewall and to the small post on the starter to eliminate that pieced together hack job wiring you described to me over the phone. Since that original wire is all spliced and pieced together half assed that throws up a big red flag to me. Also the fact that the 2 extra feed wires the go to the big post on the starter are missing also confuses me and points to even more customization by the previous owner. You also mention only getting any voltage readings showing 11+ volts? That should be plenty of voltage to crank that starter. Are you sure the red cable from the battery to the starter is in good condition? There could be corrosion in that cable at the ends hurting the amperage being pumped through the cable, even though it is showing good voltage at the other end.

Those wire coming from the big post should have fusible links in line too, if not, you may want to grab some inline fuses.

 

[89Suburban]

He says the 2 fusible linked wires are not even there at the starter and the purple wire is spliced and diced across the firewall. Just got off the phone with him again, the battery cable to the starter is brand new. I suggested a load test on the battery even though it is only 2 months old. I'm starting to get the feeling like HR said and it may be the starter even though it bench tests fine it aint cranking an engine over on the bench. Nah mean?

 

[Jims86]

He says the 2 fusible linked wires are not even there at the starter and the purple wire is spliced and diced across the firewall. Just got off the phone with him again, the battery cable to the starter is brand new. I suggested a load test on the battery even though it is only 2 months old. I'm starting to get the feeling like HR said and it may be the starter even though it bench tests fine it aint cranking an engine over on the bench. Nah mean?

what about ground? clamp a jumper to the starter case, and the other end to the neg post or block.

 

[dhamp]

How did it go last night, Steven? Did it start?

 

[MrMarty51]

 

[89Suburban]

what about ground? clamp a jumper to the starter case, and the other end to the neg post or block.

He said the ground looked fine. Only so much I can do over the phone, somebody messed with the wiring on this truck. I think he said he was going to try another starter.