Starter Wires - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 11-03-2003, 08:26 PM

I recently installed a rebuilt starter in my '76 GMC. Aside from a bolt in the eye, the installation went smoothly.

I was wondering about the wires. There is the solenoid wire, the positive battery cable, and another wire that bolts-on with the battery cable. What is that third wire for?

brennvin · 11-03-2003, 09:06 PM

I could be wrong but I believe that the following wires are connected to the starter:

1: Positive battery cable + Main feed to the remaining electrical system in the truck. The small wire has a fusible link that will burn in case the rest of the system overloads.

This smaller wire feeds the 12V junktion points in engine compartment. I've got two on my firewall. If you check them, they carry 12V even if the key isn't in the ignition.

2: Solenoid wire, connects to the ignitin key control circuit and controls when the starter is active.

Hope this helps, if I'm wrong please correct me.

/Gunnar

bluec10 · 11-04-2003, 08:14 PM

Thanks for the help. The truck STILL starts...isn't that cool?

11-03-2003, 08:26 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Starter Wires I recently installed a rebuilt starter in my '76 GMC. Aside from a bolt in the eye, the installation went smoothly. I was wondering about the wires. There is the solenoid wire, the positive battery cable, and another wire that bolts-on with the battery cable. What is that third wire for? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

11-04-2003, 08:14 PM	#3
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Thanks for the help. The truck STILL starts...isn't that cool? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

11-03-2003, 09:06 PM	#2
brennvin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 20	I could be wrong but I believe that the following wires are connected to the starter: 1: Positive battery cable + Main feed to the remaining electrical system in the truck. The small wire has a fusible link that will burn in case the rest of the system overloads. This smaller wire feeds the 12V junktion points in engine compartment. I've got two on my firewall. If you check them, they carry 12V even if the key isn't in the ignition. 2: Solenoid wire, connects to the ignitin key control circuit and controls when the starter is active. Hope this helps, if I'm wrong please correct me. /Gunnar



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