Early Model Starter Power Wire

[lennon]

Having a stupid problem with the car I put together. '86 325e motor/harness. Where does the starter get it's main power? Isn't there a dedicated wire off of the power junction block (firewall) for this? I thought so but I don't see it. I'm getting no power to the starter.

All I have hooked up (all I can see to hook up) to the power junction block is:

2 small red wires for motor harness hooked to fusible link post.

2 wires to the fusebox.

I have power at all the relays, power inside and all, but no power at the starter.

Looking at the ETMs, there should a fairly large wire straight to the starter. I see it at the starter, disappears into the harness, doesn't come out. WTF?

I can't remember how it goes, and the only e30 I have here to look at is a vert with no power junction block, all looks different. Help me out!

[lennon]

figured that out. power to the starter now, but no crank. probably related to my auto-manual swap.

[nickflic3]

Having the same problem; no power to starter. How did you fix it?

[billybobjoseph]

I would make sure the ground strap(s) mounts from the engine to the chasis is clean. Next I'd test the cut out relays. If that vehicle's starter originally came with 3 posts ( large power one in the middle and 2 smaller ones above and below it ) the one on top is for a small gauge wire that goes to the abs light on your instrument cluster and the abs relay under the dash. On the original starter that top post went to ground when the starter motor wasn't cranking but every replacement starter you find will not do that. My solution was to add a 3 amp fuse and some more wire to the little top wire and wire it in with the wires on the bottom of the solenoid ( where the ign switch signal goes ). In the meantime I blew the abs light on the dash and the abs relay.