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Purple solenoid wire shorted, no pwr coming from ign switch
Hi, I have a 2003 Chevy Cavalier. Manual trans.
One day my car would start, no clicking, no cranking...I tested the starter/solenoid at autozone, and they said it's good. I've been jumping the starter with a screwdriver to go to work every day. I tested the fuses in the interior fuse box, and the 50amp fuse in the engine compartment. All good...I replaced my ignition switch with 2 others from the junk yard...same result (turn key to accessory and they work, but turn to start and all power goes out) which I've heard is normal, and indicates a good switch. I found that my purple wire going to solenoid is shorted. There's a clutch switch that connects the ppl wire to a yellow wire that goes into my ignition switch. Yellow wire = no power????
Sounds like a bad switch, but I've replaced 3 times. I know I need to replace the ppl wire, but I'm not even getting any power from the yellow ignition switch wire? Did I blow some hidden fuse???????
Thanks, Travis
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This could be a couple different things causing your No-start condition. first thing I would check (Battery is good) access the starter solenoid, the small single wire connection is the start signal. Test for 12 volts here with DVOM or test light while someone turns the key. If there is 12 volts reading, the starter solenoid is defective. If there isn't 12 volts reading check all the fuses (with test light).
The second item causing the trouble could be the Neutral Safety Switch (Auto Trans) or Clutch Safety Switch (Manuel Trans) These could be open or out of adjustment.
Hope this helps you...
There is no starter relay shown in a wiring diagram. The only thing between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid is the park/neutral switch (or the clutch pedal position switch on manuals).
Do the warning lights and gauges come on with key on? That would verify power is into the switch and being sent out. The small purple wire on the starter solenoid should have power on it when the key is held in start position. If it does, recheck your starter and battery connections. When the purple wire energizes the solenoid, the starter motor should crank the engine.
If no power on the purple wire in start, check the neutral safety switch or the clutch switch if a manual. The start wire out of the ignition switch is a yellow wire, and the wire from either safety switch to the starter solenoid is a purple wire.
(The power to the ignition switch is from the 50 amp Ignition fuse in the under hood fuse block.) See? The positive battery cable is connected to the starter, but not to the starter motor. When the key is in start, the hot purple wire energizes the solenoid and the battery cable is connected to the starter motor.
Could be the starter solenoid. The key switch sends power to the solenoid thru the neutral safety switch. You would need to check for power on the purple wire at the solenoid when the key switch is in the start position.
What you need to find out is at the trans range switch.See if you are getting power at the yellow wire when you turn the key to the run position.This is in slot G at the connector on top of the transmission.This part can be done with the connector unplugged.The next part it has to be plugged in and you have to back probe the purple wire.This is terminal E.If you have standard trans then the colors are the same but the terminals are A and B out of the clutch pedal switch.If you have power going in the yellow but not coming out the purple then replace the trans range switch or clutch pedal switch.If you don`t have power at the yellow wire then replace the ignition switch.Hope this helps.Good luck.
Check for voltage on the purple wire at the starter when turning the key to START. If no power, check for power at the purple wire coming out of the neutral switch/clutch switch. If no power, check for power coming into switch on yellow wire. If no power, check for power on yellow wire at ign switch. If no power, check for power coming into IGN switch on red wire. If no power, you've got a blown fusible link.
if the starter motor doesn't turn at all, and all you hear is a clicking then the starter is bad and the solenoid is good
if the starter is turning and the car still doesn't start then the starter motor is slipping and is bad
to check the solenoid put a jumper from the main battery lead (Large Red) to the ignition wire switch (Smaller Purple) is the starter operates the solenoid and starter are ok and you problem is in the ignition switch, or nuetral switch, or wiring.
Tim,
There a 2 red battery feed wires going into the ignition switch. When you turn the switch to start, battery voltage goes out on the heavy gage purple or yellow wire to the clutch switch or park/neutral switch ( manual or automatic) then to the starter solenoid.
Hope this helps, let me know.
Regards,
could it be the regulator connection? I didn't check that yet.
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