77 starter problems
 

Hey everyone,

This is my first post and I must say i am so glad there is a forum for bonnevilles, I cant find any help where I live.

My problem is my starter went out on my 77 (4.9L) one day at the store. When I turned the key I could here it spinning but it engine wasnt turning over. So naturally, I went to the Auto Zone an bought me a new(rebuilt) starter motor. After installing it and hooking everything back up the way it was I was getting nothing after turning the key. I checked all my cables and still nothing. no spinning, no clicking, nothing...so i took it back up to the auto zone and they tested it and it cranked right up??? now im stuck i dont know where to look at. is there a fuse or a relay somewhere that may have blown? or am i just overlooking something? someone please help or give me some troubleshooting advice. Ive never had a issue installing a started before as it was pretty straight foward..take old one out, put new one in and off i ride.

any help is appreciated..

Been a long time sense I worked on a car that old. But if I remember right, there is a starter relay. I seem to remember a large cable going from the battery to the relay and then to the starter. I think it was on the right side wheel well or in that area. I could be wrong, it's been a long time.

I think Dan may be right about the starter relay. Follow the positive cable from the starter back to the battery. If you find it goes to a small device, probably on the inner fender, and then to the battery, that device is the relay. Replace it.

thanks guys, i woke up early this morning just so i could get a jump start on looking at it..actually called into work this morning cuz i have to get this thing fixed..ill look for that relay an let yall know what i find

Good luck, keep us updated.

ok after looking at the cables this is what ive found. the positive battery cable appears to run straight to the starter..there is another smaller cable that attaches to the same terminal on the solenoid that runs up along with the wiring harness and either goes into the firewall(where the fuse box is located) or around to the fender well where it attaches into a small plastic lookin thing where a bunch of other cables run into also. there is another cable that attaches to another terminal on the solenoid that also appears to run the same route..either to the fire wall or into this plastic harness lookin thing...someone help..also might i add it has started raining so im out gettin wet tryin to get my baby cranked...

I'm not finding any relay for your starter, so guess we should move on. Have you checked the voltage at the cables with the key off and on? If you have voltage then the problem is the starter or how it's connected. Recheck all connections, did you miss any? Hooked up wrong? It's odd that it spun with the old starter, but not the new. New checks out as good, that only leaves how it's connected.

i upoloaded some pics maybe they can help out with..hopefully they show up.

this is the little plastic harness thing on the fender well.
http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Nov16_001.jpg

where the wiring harness goes into the firewall(right in front of the fuse box)
http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Nov16_003.jpg

and the battery cable runs down a tube right next to the engine block right to the starter..there is another cable the runs from the positive side to the alternator..would that affect anything?

Your going to need to start testing cables for voltage.

i hooked the starter up exactly like the old one was in..there was two cables that ran to the bigger terminal on the solenoid..and one smaller one that runs to one of the smaller terminals on the solenoid..there were two smaller terminals on the starter..if i hook the smaller cable to the other one could that cause a problem?? just to see if it is hooked up wrong? i dont have a voltage meter to check the power any other ways to do so?

im about ready to break down and call the local mechanic and have it towed to the shop and let them deal with it...lol

Like I said, the stater spun before, so all that has changed was the new starter, so I would really give the connections a real close look.

i checked and double checked the connections..they seem good to me but i did notice one thing...on on of the smaller wires that connects to the starter there is something on the wire like a covering or something...its hard to explain the wire is coming down from the engine and there is a piece then the wire continues?? kinda looks like this... ---------{ }---------- its like a red plastic covering??or something? any ideas what this is? could it be where my problem is..this is my last shot at it before i call the tow truck and let the shop deal with it.

Possibly a fusible link??? Disconnect one end of the wire and do a continuity check from one end of the wire to the other.

well guys i appreciate the help..but its in the mechanics hands now...i know my limits and dont have the shop or the tools that i would like to have so ill let them deal with it..hopefully they wont rape my pocket book..ill let u guys know what they say and again thanks for all the help im sure ill be asking for something else later on.

We will be very interested to hear what the issue was. Sorry we couldn't get you there.

and the answer to the million dollar question is.......fusible link. thanks for all the help again guys

Damn. I thought what you were describing sounded like a fusible link. I was going to suggest you cut it out, and splice with wire toegther without it but at that point you had decided to take it to a mechanic.

Oh well, at least it is fixed.