Rebuild Obstacles - electrical/wiring HELP!!
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Rebuild Obstacles - electrical/wiring HELP!! Hi guys,
I finally put everything back together and hooked up after my LS1 rebuild. I went to go turn the key, and nothing happened. No lights on the dash, absolutely zero.
From the battery connects the wiring splits into two. One group going to the starter and the other going to the alternator.
I checked the connection at the battery (yes the battery is charged), the starter is new, and I checked the connections on them. The starter solenoid has 3 prongs on them, one has a black cable going to the motor itself ( the bigger right one), I connected the red power line to the other large prong (left one) and then the middle/upper smaller prong has the ignition wire connected to it. The thick black ground wire that was in the same plastic wrap coming from the battery was something I grounded on the starter itself, onto one of the 2 bolts holding the starter in place.
When I follow the other line to the alternator, I know I only connected one thing to the back of the alternator, I believe it was the power line. (I'm not by the car currently, so I am going off of memory)
I have a feeling that I am missing a ground wire. The dash doesn't get any power at all, so I just feel like the circuit is not complete. Does anyone have any advice about little things that easily get overlooked, or what I should do to start troubleshooting this? Its taken me the last 5 months to rebuild this, and I am so close, i just want to hear this beast roar. I'd really appreciate some help
Thank you in advance!
I finally put everything back together and hooked up after my LS1 rebuild. I went to go turn the key, and nothing happened. No lights on the dash, absolutely zero.
From the battery connects the wiring splits into two. One group going to the starter and the other going to the alternator.
I checked the connection at the battery (yes the battery is charged), the starter is new, and I checked the connections on them. The starter solenoid has 3 prongs on them, one has a black cable going to the motor itself ( the bigger right one), I connected the red power line to the other large prong (left one) and then the middle/upper smaller prong has the ignition wire connected to it. The thick black ground wire that was in the same plastic wrap coming from the battery was something I grounded on the starter itself, onto one of the 2 bolts holding the starter in place.
When I follow the other line to the alternator, I know I only connected one thing to the back of the alternator, I believe it was the power line. (I'm not by the car currently, so I am going off of memory)
I have a feeling that I am missing a ground wire. The dash doesn't get any power at all, so I just feel like the circuit is not complete. Does anyone have any advice about little things that easily get overlooked, or what I should do to start troubleshooting this? Its taken me the last 5 months to rebuild this, and I am so close, i just want to hear this beast roar. I'd really appreciate some help
Thank you in advance!
Please confirm what vehicle this is, a Firebird?
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...g-threads.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...g-threads.html
Thread Starter
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Its is a 2000 trans am (MM6 manual). Thanks for the help, but I tried that already. Unless I put it into the wrong location... Lets start from the battery:
When the battery is connected, there are lines going to the starter that I believe I connected properly like I mentioned earlier in the main post. The other branch goes to the driver side. I connected a power wire to the Alternator, and there was another power wire that I found. I was not sure where it went to, but I ended up putting it onto a spot right next to the fuse box, it seemed to fit there naturally. However, I still had no result. Is that the wire you guys are talking about? I'm assuming that it is. Seeing that I've ran out of cables to follow, I feel dead in the water...
When the battery is connected, there are lines going to the starter that I believe I connected properly like I mentioned earlier in the main post. The other branch goes to the driver side. I connected a power wire to the Alternator, and there was another power wire that I found. I was not sure where it went to, but I ended up putting it onto a spot right next to the fuse box, it seemed to fit there naturally. However, I still had no result. Is that the wire you guys are talking about? I'm assuming that it is. Seeing that I've ran out of cables to follow, I feel dead in the water...
Hopefully that pic worked but yes. All power to the vehicle besides the starter power comes from there. The ground wire should not be on one of the starter bolts. Dont remember off the top of head but I believe the ground just goes from above the starter solenoid on the block to the battery and a small wire from battery to passanger inner fender. If you have a test light check for power at the stem by fuse box. Ground light to car body first, if that dont work grond to battery. If that fails its the power wire somewhere. Theres a good sticky in the general maintenace and repair forum on removing engine from bottom. The sticky will show you where all wires go.
Last edited by tug686spd; Sep 23, 2015 at 08:27 PM. Reason: Cant type and talk at same time
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Thanks for the tip on the sticky! Do you remember what the post was titled? or maybe you can just paste the link on this thread?
I could not remember where that thick ground cable went to, and one of my friends said it grounded on the starter. I put one of the bolts through the hole and it seemed to fit perfectly so I just assumed he was correct. I will have to re-evaluate that ground. I do not recall disconnecting anything from underneath the dash or steering wheel, so everything in that area should still be connected. Im assuming the sticky has a diagram of those passenger fender grounds? Because I dont recall grounding 2. I grounded one which was right next to the battery kinda by the strut tower bolts that hold the suspension. That one was connected directly to the ground. Ill see if I can post Pictures In a minute.
I could not remember where that thick ground cable went to, and one of my friends said it grounded on the starter. I put one of the bolts through the hole and it seemed to fit perfectly so I just assumed he was correct. I will have to re-evaluate that ground. I do not recall disconnecting anything from underneath the dash or steering wheel, so everything in that area should still be connected. Im assuming the sticky has a diagram of those passenger fender grounds? Because I dont recall grounding 2. I grounded one which was right next to the battery kinda by the strut tower bolts that hold the suspension. That one was connected directly to the ground. Ill see if I can post Pictures In a minute.
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...ls1-fbody.html. Did you test for power at fuse box? Does the security light on the dash flash or light up at all.
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I havent been able to work on it. I will on Friday night, and I am hoping that ill be able to figure it out. But no, I dont have any lights at all on the dashboard when I last tried it...Thanks for the link. I just read through it, and I'm familiar with the things she did, there was nothing that surprised me. So i dont think im missing anything in that respect. I starting to think its the battery or the cables going off of it. hmmmm
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I GOT IT!!
What a relief! I managed to get power everywhere just as it was suppose to be! BUT the car still didn't start....there is no fuel going to the injectors...I disconnected the line to check, and it was dry....my thought is the fuel pump is bad....or perhaps there is a relay that I need to reset? I'm going to check this forum for more about it, but I figured I'd let you guys know how it was going!
Thanks again for the help, and if you have any theories on the fuel...I'm all ears!
What a relief! I managed to get power everywhere just as it was suppose to be! BUT the car still didn't start....there is no fuel going to the injectors...I disconnected the line to check, and it was dry....my thought is the fuel pump is bad....or perhaps there is a relay that I need to reset? I'm going to check this forum for more about it, but I figured I'd let you guys know how it was going!
Thanks again for the help, and if you have any theories on the fuel...I'm all ears!
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Listen for the pump to turn on? Prime the pump with the key and release the nipple inside the shrader valve and see if fuel squirts out? Jump terminal 30 and 87 on the pump relay if the above tests shows nothing....just need to dig deeper.
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We were listening for the pump, but there was nothing. So it is not working. It COULD be the ground on the back of the driver side block! I remember removing it during the uninstall, but I don't recall putting it back in place...I would of noticed a loose ground hanging around, though. So....im not sure if that's the culprit. Does my T/A have a relay reset switch?