68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

well on my 68 project with a 99 ls1 and wiring harness from speartech, i have everything wired up, i have the pink wire that comes from the computer that says go to the ignition switch. i have that wired in, and then i have the orange wire that goes from the comp to the battery hooked up. i have both the stock wires from the igntion to the starter, and i even have the wire that came with the harness to the starter. when i turn the key the check engine light comes on and stays on. what do i need to do? please any and all help is desperatly wanted

daniel

StngKlr

iTrader: (18)

Have you checked to see if youre getting voltage to the starter when you turn the key? Thats all it can be. The motor should crank regardless of the engine wiring, now getting it running is totally different. Also, do the 1st gens have a park switch on the shifter, requiring the shifter to be in park before the starter will engage? Thats all I can think of.

Speartech

iTrader: (14)

So many people on the different boards have their own definition of what "won't turn over" means.

Do you mean the starter won't do anything or do you mean the starter cranks but the engine won't start?

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

ohhh no when i say turn over i mean the starter wont even turn! lol i think its funny how people get turning over with starting up confused lol.

Speartech

iTrader: (14)

Stngklr pretty much has it covered. As long as the positive battery cable is hooked up to the correct post on the starter solenoid, and the old wiring from the car is still powered (fusible links), then you should be getting 12 volts to your ignition switch, and then down the purple wire when you try to crank.

You might want to make sure the old neutral saftey switch is not stopping you. That should be on the old shifter or clutch pedal depening on which trans you're using.

StngKlr

iTrader: (18)

Did you see my post?

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

yes i saw your post and i will be sure to check on that tomorrow, but i am pretty sure that i am.


and speartech, i am using a 4l60e, and i have a wire for that from your wiring harness, but where does it go?

do i have to have my fuel pump hooked up for the car to turn over? the same with the maf?

Speartech

iTrader: (14)

The Park/Neutral wire in my harness is just to control idle speed when in gear or out of gear. That doesn't matter for what you are doing. I'm thinking more along the lines of the old 68 wiring. What did it have, auto or stick? That's the neutral safety switch wiring I am refering to. That may be what is stopping it from cranking.

You can unhook everything on the engine and it should still crank as long as the battery is hooked up and the starter and solenoid wiring are in place. It's also important that the negative battery cable is hooked to the block good.

StngKlr

iTrader: (18)

Ahh, battery/chassis grounds, thats what I forgot. My cables are routed like this: Battery to framerail, framerail to passenger side cylinder head. The factory braided groundstrap, coming off of the block near the alternator, grounded to the other framerail. Also make sure your grounding points are clean, ie. no paint underneath or rust etc...

I'm thinking your old factory wiring is suspect here also.

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

well the thing is that i had a pontiac 400 in this thing when i first got it. but when i did have it, i hooked the wiring up and everything kind of just like it is now and the car would turn over. i even started the car a couple of times. but for the ground strap, i have it going from the battery to the block. should i route it to the frame instead? and the car cam stock with a th350... but i dont remember takin any wires off of the shiter or anything? i will check tomorrow. but thank you all for yalls help. and if there is anything else that you would like to add please do so!

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

You want the grounds as Stngkiller described:
batt negative to the engine block;
engine block to chassis

Both of us added an extra ground strap from a cyl head to the firewall, where 3rd gen cars have a dedicated ground bolt. Probably not necessary.

For your shifter, you should have found at least a reverse light switch and a park/neutral safety switch. The park/neut switch is what Speartech is referring to.

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

this car was so freakin messed up when i got it, i will look tomorrow. but thanks for the advice i will look into it tomorrow

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

one more quick question, where do i hook the neutral safety switch up to? thanks again

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

Your shifter should have a provision for this. If you just want to crank the engine, you can tie the two wires together.

Risk is that the engine will crank while in gear, instead of having a safety interlock to disable the starter when not in Park or Neutral.

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

well how do i hook these wires up? i have 4 possible wires that could be connected to my neutral saftey switch. two purple wires, 10 gauge and two green wires 12 gauge. if i put one of the purple wires on a ground it starts to glow and the line gets hot. but when i put the other purple wire grounded as well, nothing happens. and nothing really seems to happen with the green wires that i have.

but when you say that the shifter should have provisions for my nsw, do you know where they would be on a 99 trans am shifter? thanks for the help by the way, i really appreciate it

Scooter70

iTrader: (1)

My clutch safety switch has two purple wires. Someone just tied them together years ago on my car, bypassing the switch. Like Crainholio said above, just make sure that the car is in neutral when starting.

-Matt

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

well i guess that is what i will do then, because i dont see anything on my shifter for the wires! but dont you have to have a NSS to race at the track? or is that just a track by track thing, some have'em and some dont

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

That's a pretty rough way to test for voltage...might want to drop a few bucks and get a test light so you don't blow fuses or trash a driver in the PCM.

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

i didnt mean to do it lol! it just happened when i was messin around! thanks for the help though!

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

well i fixed it lol. damn neutral safety switch! lol cause me so much freakin grief! but it turns over fine now. i went and got some fuel line today and will hopefully beable to start her up tomorrow. i really want to thank everyonr for all their help! wouldnt have been able to do it without ya!

daniel