91 sse starter electrical problem

[essikr]

The voltage to the starter solenoid is below seven volts and will not energize when trying to start with the key.Jumping across the solenoid to the starter worked .So I replaced the solenoid still did not work.I replaced the battery ,no fix there either. Is there a relay somewhere?It seems like a loose connection somewhere.I looked at the gear select switch ,looks normal. Don't know where else to look.Thinking about giving up and installing a starter button on the dash somewhere.Help!!!

[randman1]

Is that 7 volts on the cable coming from the battery or on the purple wire connected to the solenoid?

If it's the battery cable, I'd suspect corrosion or a poor connection at the battery. If it's the purple wire, start under the column (wire will be yellow at this point) with your voltmeter and check it down the line to find out where the fault is. The circuit goes as follows:

Ignition key... start enable relay (if equipped with factory security)... park/neutral switch... starter.

Measure the voltage of the yellow wire under the column to check the ign switch, yellow wire to the park/neutral switch to check the start enable relay, and the purple wire out of the park/neutral switch to test the switch.

[essikr]

Thanks for the reply,been away.Yes,it is the wire to the solenoid. It does not have a factory security sytem but it did have a plug in piece that could be removed. I had to splice the wires and eliminate it because the connections were not making good contact .

[randman1]

Did splicing the wires solve the problem?

[essikr]

Sorry I did not explain.That fixed a previous problem.This new problem developed a month later .It started out as a occasional problem, turning the key off and on several times would start it. It won't now !How do you know if you have factory security? There is a security light on the dash. If it does where is the relay located?It sure acted like a relay went bad or has burned contacts. I will start by checking voltage at the column.Does the purple wire from the neutral safety switch go directly to the solenoid? Thanks again.

[randman1]

A blinking Security light would be one way to determine if you have a factory antitheft system but the RPO code would be better. On your spare tire cover, there is a list of option codes that were installed at the factory. Unfortunately, my manual is at a buddy's house so I can't confirm the code right now.

The start enable relay is located behind the dash and requires removal to get at it. the good news is that a relay would not be my first guess as the culprit.

Yes, the purple wire goes from the park/neutral switch directly to the solenoid. The wire color is yellow from the ignition key to the switch though. I'd start by checking the voltage ay the yellow wire under the column. your description sounds a lot like an intermittent ignition switch problem.