HELP!!! In a "Starter" pinch

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by particlewave

No, the “fuses” you are referring to are actually called fusible links and are in the current distributor.
The starter cable absolutely, positively does not pass through any of them.
Just to be clear: this is fact and not up for debate.

Positive cable goes from battery to an insulated bolt that passes through the front “firewall”. From there, it splits between the current distributor and another cable that runs through the center console, then through the rear firewall (with the shifter cables) to the distribution block at the top of the engine. From the distribution block, it splits again, with one cable going to the starter and the other going to the alternator.

In other words, the main cable for starter power is direct connected to the battery with no fuses or fusible links, relays or breakers in between (just two bolted “Y” connections).
The starter cable is quite heavy and can carry a lot of current. I wouldn’t be surprised if it melted a bit somewhere, though.

Take another look at the wiring diagram. It’s a straight shot. Failing that, get under the dash and see for yourself (I have many times ).

OK, then I stand corrected. I actually thought about it afterwards and realized that I've never seen a fused circuit to the starter in any car. It's always been a direct cable run from the battery. In that case I fear he may have melted a wire. I hope I'm wrong there too.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by piper6909

OK, then I stand corrected. In that case I fear he may have melted a wire. I hope I'm wrong there too.

Thank you, again, everyone for chiming in with suggestions, recommendations, and information.

Dogs had me up at 2 this morning, Pacific.

Today I'll hook back up the TB. Yesterday kicked my ass, and I was out like a light at 730. That bottom starter bolt... the ground wire... kicked. My. Ass. While I didn't invent any new profanities... my neighbors likely were wondering why I kept repeating the same two words-four syllables string.

I was comforted when yesterday, after I removed from that starter post the ground wire, and the car chimed and the dash lights lit up. After I hook up the TB I'll see if she fires up.

I'll report back.

Have a great morning! :dance:

[maytag]

Originally Posted by Starter986

Thank you, again, everyone for chiming in with suggestions, recommendations, and information.



Dogs had me up at 2 this morning, Pacific.



Today I'll hook back up the TB. Yesterday kicked my ass, and I was out like a light at 730. That bottom starter bolt... the ground wire... kicked. My. Ass. While I didn't invent any new profanities... my neighbors likely were wondering why I kept repeating the same two words-four syllables string.



I was comforted when yesterday, after I removed from that starter post the ground wire, and the car chimed and the dash lights lit up. After I hook up the TB I'll see if she fires up.



I'll report back.



Have a great morning! :dance:

Imagining the contortions to get to that bolt.... have you started doing what I do, and wear your belt with the buckle over your hip, instead of front and center? ;-)

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[Starter986]

Maytag... seriously. Contortions.

Piper... I didn't even go looking for any fuse or panel... didn't want to ruin the good mojo fromn finding the dash light up.

The good news... got everything buttoned back up... hit the ignition... she fired right up. I should have known... or suspected... that something was amiss when I attached the ground to the starter positive post. I had the pliers and was twisting the ground wire so that the piece on the end, with the hole, would slide on the post. So much so that when I figured out my eff-up... the wire lost it's shape to nicely meet that bottom bolt... coming in fron the front engine cover.

What I ended up having to do was remove completely the ground wire then struggling to "re-shape" it so that I could push the starter bottom bolt through it and into the starter bottom bolt hole.

That. Was. A Pain. In. The. Ass.

Leaning over the passenger side of the car with one arm carefully pushing and manipulating the socket and extension while the other arm tried to maneuver the ground wire hole so that the bolt would fit through. That took a half hour plus of trial and error. When finally the bolt met the ground wire hole it took another half hour of trying to get that combination to align with the starter botton bolt hole. I must have had that wire and bolt in and out of the engine area 30 times... carefully pulling it from under... and then moving it back into position amid the small myriad of wires and hoses... each time reshaping the heavy duty wire so that the bolt would enter the starter hole. I used some "sticky"... and tape... to hold the bolt onto that ground wire hole. I'm certain my neighbors heard me talking to myself.

Finally... the bolt met the hole and that's when my patience REALLY kicked in. Through the front engine I got the bolt to "stick" and snugged her up.

Thank you, again, fellas for being there with ideas, guidance, and direction. This forum really serves as a "neighborhood". A neighborhood filled with 986 enthusiasts.

Have a great day!