hooking up starter

[The Fast One!]

Just go to post 8 to read about the problem.....







ok well my car is not starting. and my windows wont go down, so it is probably my starter hooked up wrong.


I am hooking up the starter, I'm pretty sure there is three places to hook up wires.


the big red one goes to the big plug, and the black/green goes to the smaller plug and the black/yellow goes to the bigger plug.


but there is another red wire, I have no clue where it goes. my friend tried telling me over t he phone but I couldnt get it to work. maybe it's hooked up right and the motor isn't grounded enough, but shouldn't my windows work still?


the starter only will click once if i have it hooked up some random way.

please help me out.

[e30_kid89]

give this a try, im sure you'll find what ur looking for:

http://hosting.data.bg/bmw/BMW/E-Boo...viceManual.pdf

[rs4pro3]

The big red wire and the other red wire, both go the terminal with the 13mm nut on it, The black yellow goes to a seperate plug as well as the black/green. The black yellow wire is what switches the starter on and off, the 2 red wires are constant 12volts, and the black/green goes to the unloader relay.

[The Fast One!]

yeah I already have the bently.

I thought the starter was wired wrong but it is wired correctly.



I ma only getting one click when I try to start the car.

I think my ground are fine, need to check the ecu's power, but do you guys have any other suggestions???

[e30_kid89]

is the starter new? or do u know if its working? maybe its that...but yea check your wiring before that.

[erik325i]

but there is another red wire, I have no clue where it goes.

There's the problem. Both large red wires bolt onto the same terminal on the starter. One wire is power coming from the battery. The other wire is going from the starter to the alternater.

I guess you probably have the wire from the alternater to the starter attached, but you don't have the power from the battery to the starter.

-Erik

[EtaSport]

Mike, you will should, but check to make sure you have 12 volts at the starter by checking the red wire. Make sure it is at least 12.5 and not a lot less. This still seems like an incorrect wiring issue/ loose ground/ loose connection to me.

OR... GET AN E36 STARTER.

yes--since not stated above, this is an e46 starter IF there are any differences.

[The Fast One!]

There's the problem. Both large red wires bolt onto the same terminal on the starter. One wire is power coming from the battery. The other wire is going from the starter to the alternater.

I guess you probably have the wire from the alternater to the starter attached, but you don't have the power from the battery to the starter.

-Erik

that's the prblem, I have 3 wires going to the main terminal, there are two red and one for the alternator, then the two black.


I KNOW the two black are right and the alternator and big red but not sure about the other red wire.


but mainly when I want to check for 12v at the starter don't i need to be turing the key.

I was looking for voltage at the distribution block and could only see a little voltage momentarilly at the thing.


how should the distribution block be hooked up, I think it's right but maybe not. going to go check everything now.

[matt]

One of those red wires you have going to the alternator should probably be going to the battery. Check for continuity between them when you have one disconnected from the starter. That terminal on the starter should be hot all the time.

[The Fast One!]

that's my problem then. I am not getting power at that terminal, prolly my dristribution block is hook up wrong.

where would I put that red wire if it doesn't go to the starter though?


going to check all connections now for power.

[matt]

it's the same red wire... you have both ends hooked to the starter. One end needs to go to the power distribution block.

Matt

[The Fast One!]

i already have the one hooked up to the block. I looked under the black case for the harness, and it had the big red wire going from the distribution block, then splits into two red wires, the one goes to the starter, and the other I feel might go to the fuse box somewhere or somethin.

[The Fast One!]

I rewired my distribution box. the top has the red wire and the bottom has the two black wires, but now I have no lights or anything, but I feel it is because the red wire should go to the fuse box or something, the two black wires seem to trigger relays, so I feel that that should only get power when i turn the key to ON and not acc 1 or 2.

[Jason89i]

I rewired my distribution box. the top has the red wire and the bottom has the two black wires, but now I have no lights or anything, but I feel it is because the red wire should go to the fuse box or something, the two black wires seem to trigger relays, so I feel that that should only get power when i turn the key to ON and not acc 1 or 2.

give us some pics....its not too difficult. also, check the wire colors (the black ones you refer too) by pulling back the black sheathing or telling us where they go. cheers, jason

[The Fast One!]

ok here are some pics.











on the distribution block. the top red wire goes to the starter, and has constant 12v. the next on down is the smaller of the two wires going to the under hood fuse box. these only get power it seems for a quick second when the key is turned to start the motor. again I think the fuse box needs to be getting constant power which is where that red wire needs to go but I cna't find a place for it.


how it is hooked up right now i get nothing, no starter click or lights when I have the key in.

however I do get 12v at the starter, I think if I can find out where this red wire goes to gives the inside power and all then it will fire right up.