Starting problems

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tatey2457

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Hey peeps, I just picked up a clean little 97 2.2 sunfire for $250. The guy that had it has screwed up the electrics somewhere...he couldn't even get it to run. When he turned the key it tried to crank but just dragged...long story short I ended up jumping it from the starter relay and it fired right up after sitting for 4 months. Also the head lights don't work but im not worried about that for now. Other than checking all the grounds what else should i be looking for?
 
what relays and where are they located?
 
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Head light relay: either near the driver's side headlight by the bumper or in the fuse bos the the driver's kick panel. Starter relay, there was a recall due to fires, not sure what all years involved, but if 97 was one of the years, look by the radiator.
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Headlights are sorted, the harness was unplugged. now all thats left is the starting issue and theres a prob with the multifunctional alarm, theres no cluster lights, no dome light and no alarms to fasten seat belt, keys left in ignition etc. The wires around the starter are a mess so I'm going to rewire that first. Is the alarm in the same place as a 98...under the passenger airbag? Is there a plug between the alarm and the fuse box somewhere?
I bought the car just for the shell, mines rusting quite a bit so I was going to swap my engine over but it's looking like this could be a easy fix
 
Ok so I just pulled the pcm out and its one thats been replaced from a junk yard, I know a pcm needs to be flashed with the cars vin but if it wasn't when they replaced it (Almost certain they never) what would happen? the car runs and drives fine if i start it from the starter relay but its almost like the battery is dying if i try from the ignition. And the chimes and cluster lights dont work.
 
Are you jumping across the solenoid to power the starter motor or are you powering the coil for the solenoid? If your actually jumping across the switch in the solenoid, then your solenoid is going and should be replaced... with the rest of the starter, I believe. As far as your chimes and lights, I think all of that is off a common fuse, check that first.
 
Im jumping the connectors for the relay that was fitted as a recall due to the ignition, im guessing they connect to the solenoid. I've checked all the fuses and relays, anyone know what pin on the pcm sends the signal for the lights and also the rad fan?
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Not the relay...tried it in my other sunfire and it fired right up...jumping the relay is the same as bridging the solenoid...so bad solenoid?
 
http://repairguide.autozone.com/zne...00c152/80/03/cf/ea/large/0900c1528003cfea.gif

The schematic I found doesn't show the recall relay, but I'd venture to guess that the issue would either be with the range selector or clutch interlock (depending if you're manual or automatic). That doesn't totally make sense to me, but you've been proving most other possibilities to be clean.

http://repairguide.autozone.com/zne...00c152/80/03/cf/e4/large/0900c1528003cfe4.gif

Pin C2-46 powers the CEL, but beyond that, I'm not sure.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/re...tName=WIRING+DIAGRAMS&partId=0900c1528003cfdd

This should help you with tracing out other electrical issues.
 
Thanks a lot for the info...I think im going to try and crank it over from the ignition harness and rule out the switch and depending on what happens there I'll see whats going on in the clutch safety switch.
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Well now I'm stumped...its not the ignition switch or the clutch safety switch...I'm getting 9.something volts on the starter wire while cranking and just under 13 if i turn the key with the relay off...sound normal?
 
SOLVED!! Should have noticed it before but never mind...The ground was on the solenoid...moved it to the starter and she fired up with no resistance.
 
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