Starter doesn't engage...

[e46s54dr]

Solenoid didn't engage, I brought it to advance auto parts to have it tested and once again, the starter, which is new, didn't work. Oh boy..

Yeah, "new" stuff dont always work. That sucks that you had to remove the starter again. Its such a tight squeeze to get those nuts and bolts.

A little trick that Ive found to work is to get a long pry bar and apply pressure to the inverted torq bolts that hold the starter in place while using an impact gun to zip the nuts off.

Ive used this method about 6 times already and it saves alot of time and man power.

[lolcantturn]

Yeah, "new" stuff dont always work. That sucks that you had to remove the starter again. Its such a tight squeeze to get those nuts and bolts.

A little trick that Ive found to work is to get a long pry bar and apply pressure to the inverted torq bolts that hold the starter in place while using an impact gun to zip the nuts off.

Ive used this method about 6 times already and it saves alot of time and man power.

I actually replaced the torx with a M10 bolt and nut, I have a long 17mm open end on the trans side where the nut is and I can easily squeeze my "shorty" ratchet with a 17mm socket on the other side and it comes out easily

on the other hand,
tried another starter, I made sure that it tested fine by bringing it to advance auto parts for a starter test before hand, I saw that the solenoid engaged the gear forwards


BUT MY MOTOR STILL DOESNT TURN OVER
what the fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk..........
My wiring is completely 100000% correct. I haven't changed anything except the trans! what the fuck gives

I really don't get it. Ok so there are the three terminals on the starter
1. Battery power/ the big red wire - Obviously works because there is power going to the starter, the electric motor spins
2. Ignition switch/ the middle size wire held by a 10mm nut - works because it kicks on when I turn my key
3. Neutral Switch - not sure what it does, its the smallest nut 8mm, Don't know what it does or how i can confirm it works

[lolcantturn]

Maybe I somehow have it installed wrong? (Very highly unlikely,)

Here's how my previous trans, the G260 out of an M44's starter bellhousing provision looked like


It has a little dowel pin to allign the starter



The G260 doesn't have that

My Starter is a 3 bolt starter (like how all M50 starters are I guess? lol)


I don't know just throwing ideas out there..

My trans dust shield is from an E30 M20 G260...though I doubt that makes any difference at all lol

[lolcantturn]

here's what happens when I jump the terminals..nothing

[e46s54dr]

Which two terminals are you jumping?

[lolcantturn]

Which two terminals are you jumping?

The 13mm (The one with the big red wire) and the 10mm one. Not to be confused with the 8mm one.

[lolcantturn]

these two

[e46s54dr]

How sure are you that the solenoid is engaging now? Im still thinking that its not a defective part but something to do with its wiring.

I know you said that the current wiring is the exact same as from the original but have you tried switching the two small wires around? I have a good feeling that this will solve your problem.

You can also try putting both small wires together on the smallest post and putting both together on the next larger post.

[e46s54dr]

If you positive the solenoid is engaging then theres a problem. How positive are you that the dual mass flywheel is from an m50 and not an m20? If its a m20 dual mass mated with a m50 starter, the gear wont contact the flywheel at all I believe.

Sorry if its of no real help. Im just throwing out ideas.

[328ijunkie]

How sure are you that the solenoid is engaging now? Im still thinking that its not a defective part but something to do with its wiring.

I know you said that the current wiring is the exact same as from the original but have you tried switching the two small wires around? I have a good feeling that this will solve your problem.

You can also try putting both small wires together on the smallest post and putting both together on the next larger post.

Dont put the two wires together. The Green/black wire is for the unloader relay. its not meant to be powered. Its a switched ground controlled by the starter. If you have an 87 and below you dont need to connect it to anything. your unloader relay is controlled by the body harness.

You should be able to short the lower 10mm terminal and the large 13mm terminal to fire the starter and solenoid. (assuming you have +12 going to the 13 terminal already and your engine ground works).

And again to see if the solenoid works just give +12 to the 10mm terminal without any power on the main terminal.


And if all else fails. Find a BFH. ;)

[e30rapidic]

I used an automatic e34 harness on my S50......the harmess had an extra black wire with an eyelet on it that is the same size as the wire/eyelet hooked to the starter, no recollection what it was for now but its capped and tied off. I had forgotten about it until now. Make sure you don't have one of these extra wires hanging somewhere and have used the wrong one.

Also not really surprised you have to keep replacing starters by jumping terminals like that.

here's a quick pic that I took with my iPhone, wires are the same as yours.



after looking again, are you sure you're hot wires aren't pressed against the starter body?

[lolcantturn]

Thanks for all the help gentlemen, but check this out........I took the starter out of the trans, grounded it with a jumper wire, left all the wiring correct, rested the starter against the block, and took a video

http://youtu.be/96d-nb0NogI

So the solenoid works. There are some grind marks on my flywheel. What. The. Eff. Is my flywheel seized from changing the trans somehow? :|

[lolcantturn]

Ok im about to blow you guys minds. THe flywheel isn't seized. Check this out, though the solenoid engages it barely makes contact with the flywheel (check out the wear)




WHAT. Perhaps its because the G260 uses a single mass flywheel on an M20 car which sits closer to the block? I have a dual mass

[e46s54dr]

The starter ring spacing between the single mass and dual mass are the same I believe. Maybe you mistakenly put the spacer ring between the crank and flywheel instead of on top of the flywheel?

[lolcantturn]

The starter ring spacing between the single mass and dual mass are the same I believe. Maybe you mistakenly put the spacer ring between the crank and flywheel instead of on top of the flywheel?

I didn't mess with the flywheel at all when doing the swap.