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Old 03-30-2009, 06:22 AM   #6
ctwright
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
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Re: my 86 buick electra

Check your smaller posts on the solenoid at the starter with a test light and someone turning the key to start(make sure the vehicle is in park or neutral with parking brake on), if you get light you have it wired backwards or the solenoid is bad. If you are checking it my jumping to the big bolt on the starter instead try it smaller bolt on the solenoid and see if it still cranks.

You have 3 posts on the solenoid, a Battery terminal, a Switch terminal, and a Motor terminal, with a jumper already on going to the starter.

You need the battery wire going to the battery terminal, it's the terminal furthest from the starter.

You need the wire that is hot with the key in start on the switch terminal. It's the smallest terminal looking at the side with the bolts next one going clockwise from the battery terminal
The other terminal that's already got a jumper going to the starter doesn't get anything and it's going down clockwise from the switch terminal and right next to the starter.

Make sure your test light lights up with the clip to a ground and the probe touching the battery terminal. Make sure it lights with the clip to ground and probe touching the switch terminal with the key turned all the way over to start.
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