Main electrical connector to starter motor

[commodoredave]

VT II, v6 no turbo or scharge
Trying to locate the electrical cabling going to/from the starter motor.
Not sure exactly where it is. Can it be accessed from the top through the engine bay OR
does car need to be jacked up and starter motor approached from underneath?
Need to remove and clean the connector and connector mounting and also check wiring for damage.
Does anybody know exactly where the starter motor electrical connectors are located?

 

[losh1971]

It comes from the top and ends at the bottom. There are three cables on the starter two switch wires and the big red cable. The cables corrode so you might need to chop and replace the lugs on the switch wires if you have enough length or its trace it back and replace the lot.

 

[Skylarking]

In almost all engine designs, the starter motor operates on a big cogged ring gear that's fixed to the flywheel (if manual) or flexplate (if auto). The flywheel or flexplate is located at the end of the crank at the back of the motor. Usually in V arangements, the starter motor is mounted low down at the back of the motor under the exhaust (so many manufacturers put a shield over it to protect it from heat). Often it's easiest to see the starter motor from under the car.

(In some older designs, particularly small 4 cylinder engines, the starter motor is easily accessible from the engine bay but that's not the case with Holden V6's).

As losh says, the starter motor has some wires connected to it. A thick red cable provides the large current during cranking. The other end of this thick red cable is usually connected directly to the battery positive terminal (maybe via a large fusable link?)... The return path for this starting current is via the engine block which means the block must have a good earth strap else current wont flow.

The other much thinner wires are to control the starter motor solenoid (which is part of the starter motor itself. In modern cars this wire is energised by the BCM after the key is authenticaed. Only once the solenoid is energised will the starter motor turn. If the starter isn't being energised and thus cranking, you may have a more frustrating problem to resolve than simple corroded main starter lead but you've got to start somewhere.

Good luck with it (and never ever get under a car unless well supported on stands or ramps on a flat concrete floor)...

 

[Immortality]

Don't forget the starter motor relay. If no clicky clicky on the starter that would be the first port of call.

 

[losh1971]

If no click, then it could be one of several things. Agree the relay is easiest.