I am not sure that it grounds there on mine. On mine the ground for battery is on the bolt on the right front side of the engine, under the crankshaft pulley. I cleaned that ground, and connected one more wire from the frame to the same bolt. So, I think this route is clean...but I will check again.
On my diagram it shows that the red wire which comes to the starter solenoid is grounded. Do you knoe where its ground is? I have three contacts on my starter solenoid, so I have no idea where it grounds.

Thanks,

Klim

 

On my 87 the starter relay (not solenoid) is grounded thru it's mounting screws.

On my 87 the positive battery cable is wired to the starter relay, next in line is the starter & the circuit is completed thru the engine and bac k to the ground cable.

Thats all there is to the start circuit on my 87.

If yours is wired the same & if the cables and battery are in good shape I have no idea why you are only getting 5 volts at the starter??

 

Well, what about the red small wire whih comes from the ignition switch(the one on which I get 5V). I thought circuit for it is more complicated(ignition switch, clutch switch...)
I shorted the clutch relay(didn't like it). I will check the mounting bolts on the starter relay and starter ground.

Thanks,

Klim

 

Just reread this thread, and you say that you have 12 volts going to the ignition switch, but turn the key to start & you are only getting 5 volts at the starter relay.

Maybe a bad ignition switch or bad clutch safety switch??

If you remove the connector from the clutch switch are you getting 12 volts from the ignition switch with the key at start??

These electrical problems can make you crazy.

 

BTW, I see on the wiring diagram that the wire from the clutch switch splices to the starter relay AND to the ignition module.

Maybe a problem with the ignition module is pulling the voltage down.

If all else fails try removing the ignition module & then check the voltage at the starter relay.

 

Hey.
Sucess!!!! I have finally fixed it!
I feel so stupid now. It was bad positive wire of the battery. I mean the "clamp" wasn't touching the battery terminal all the way. I cleaned it, grinded it, and put it on all the way. Car started, and is now happily consuming fuel

Thanks a lot for all the help,
If not you, I would probably go to the autoshop to fix this,

Thanks again,

Klim

 

Now thats what i call some VERY GOOD news.

Congrats on the fix glad to hear you got the miserable thing figured out.

 

I just logged on and saw this thread and couldnt believe it, im dealing with the same issue on my sons 88. wont start just clicks, throw a charger or jump it and it starts. Here is where it gets weird though

1. new battery
2. new batter cables
3. new relay
4. new cable to starter, which by the way is darn near impossible to get to without a lift and even then
5. tried the jumper cable trick
6. tried cleaning up the posts and cables
7. checked with voltimeter, no prob on 12 volts
8. When i do get it started it runs a few minutes (5 or so) then just quits and wont restart.

This thing is killin me any other suggestions or ideas what might be causing this mess.

joe

 

There are couple of things to check:
1)Connect everything as it should be(including the battery). Then turn the key into the "ignition" position(just before crank position). Take the red, small wire off the starter solenoid. Then take a piece of small wire and connect positive terminal of the battery with the small contact on the solenoid. See if it cranks.
2) If that doesn't make it crank, just take a jumper cable and connect two big terminals on the solenoid. Everything shoudl be connected and ke turned into the "ingnition" position.
See, what happens.
Klim

 

7 "checked with voltmeter, no problem 12 volts."

With the engine running you should get around 14 volts across the battery.

 

tried jumpering the red wire direct to positive terminal, no change there. also tried the tying the two posts on the solenoid together, didnt seem to help. Whats interesting on this, is that the battery can show a full 12V charge but acts as if its dead, hook a charger up to it, and you can "pump" it up enough to get started but it doesnt stay running, im am spoofed on this one.

joe

 

Thanks XLT, i cant get it started to check that, but if we figure this out ill throw it on there again

 

Try the jumper cables trick which XLT wrote about.
Klim

 

Okay pulled the red wire off the solenoid and put my voltage tester on it.

key in on position = 5 volts
turn to start = 9 volts
beast wont even turn over

battery still = 12

so what direction does that point us in?

thanks for everyones help by the way

 

A fully charged battery will read around 12&3/4 volts.

Put the charger back on it until it's fully charged then start it & check for the 14 volts at the battery.