Hello everyone. I have a 1986 base model that is giving me trouble. I have a 1987 t2 that a tree fell on and totaled it. So i bought the 86 to swap the drive trains. The engine is in and it seems like im not getting power to the starter. I have checked all fuses and cleaned the wires and connections on the starter and the battery. How do i test the ignition wire on the starter? With a test light it shows that it is grounded. Is that correct? The engine has the t2 engine harness and computer to run it. Do any connections need to be changed? Please help point me in the right direction. Andy

 

Some models require the clutch to be depressed to start the car. Is this the case w/your car or not?

Basically there is a Black/red wire (front harness) which plugs into a single wire plug at the ignition switch thus w/key to start this wire needs to have voltage.

The interlock switch is the item used on the clutch pedal which requires the pedal to be depressed to start.

Lets say you do not have this switch. If that's the case then the B/R wire (from ignition) would run to an area right near the trailing coil.

The B/R wire either runs to a plug connected to nothing or a relay called the starter cut relay. Relay has one plug w/4 wires. Main relay has two plugs.

Chances are your car does not have the starter relay. If this were the case then the B/R wire and a Black/White wire would be on the same side of the plug. On the other side of the plug would be a U shaped jumper wire connecting both the B/R and B/W wire together.

If this were the case then w/key to start the voltage on the B/R is passed to the B/W wire and the B/W wire runs to the starter solenoid.

 

Thank you for your help. I will look into that as soon as i get off work and let you know how it goes.

 

don't forget the single black wire that comes off the harness(dr side) and goes to the Fuse block.It is part of the alt harness(sort of).It should be right near the engine bay fuse block.Sometimes just plain overlooked.
If that is not hooked up you do not get any power to start the car.

 

I will double check that also. Thank you for your help.

 

The ignition switch has a plug w/a Black/White wire and a Black wire of thicker gauge. The Black wire is supposed to have constant voltage. If it did not then the connector which Styx then mentioned is likely unplugged. Also, if the wire was unplugged then the wipers or turn signals would not work w/key to on. If they did work then it's plugged in but it would also be possible the connection is not the best.

 

Here are the connections. Everything seems good. Anyway the chassis harness has something different that could cause this problem?

 

Have you checked the voltage in the wires suggested in post #2. The Blue plug you took a picture is mentioned in that post. Sorry, but pics are of little help as you have to figure out if the relevant wires are behaving as they should.

Another thing is I don't believe a manual NA starter will work on a turbo engine.

 

Ok Satch, ive been helping him with this since we dropped in the t2 motor. We did check for voltage and the connector is receiving voltage. I honestly cant remember it off the top of my head. Now it was getting voltage on the start posistion with and with out the clutch depressed, so that rules out the clutch switch correct? I just read in another forum regarding starting issues and read that their is also a relay in that circuit for the solenoid located under the trailing pack i didnt look for a relay so is that correct? If so thats the only other thing i can think of thats keeping it from getting power. Thanks, Sterling

 

If you had the starter relay then the Blue plug would be plugged into it and the plug would not have the jumper wire (jumper wire takes the place of the relay basically).

Which wire received voltage w/key to on. Black/Red takes the ignition voltage to the plug. The jumper wire transfers the voltage to the Black/White wire. The B/W wire takes it to the starter solenoid. So these things need to be checked on.

The starter itself has the voltage wire coming from the battery. If the shank(rod) of a screwdriver is used to bridge the terminal at the starter from the battery to the starter solenoid terminal then the starter should spin. This would tell you the state of the starter. If it spins and the B/W wire to the solenoid on the starter receives voltage w/key to start then one apparent problem would be the amperage being sent to the solenoid is too low.

 

manual NA ( n326 ) starter does not fit turbo gearbox at all

but a auto NA ( n327 ) starter does fit a turbo gearbox .. in fact it is the hi TQ upgrade

which brings me to the point.. is the new body an ex auto ?

\if it is, then there is a gearbox inhibitor switch to also bypass

 

Its a t2 trans and starter. Im not sure if it was automatic i would say that it was manual from the factory.