Not starting after replaced gearbox

[series2vu]

Hey guys,
Been taking tips off here for ages but first time I’m genuinely stuck.
I am working on a mates 96 vs auto/coloumnshift.
Just put the freshly rebuilt box back into the car. All plumbed up nicely no issues, went to turn it over but isn’t even engaging the starter let alone cranking. Wires look okay and plenty of power reaching the starter solenoid. Checked fuses, relays… ground is somewhat cleaned up.
Driving me insane now, does anyone have any idea?
I have only hardwired the starter outside of car, works fine.

 

[krusing]

Test each fuse with a multimeter,
Measure the starter coil wire for volts,
Measure the solenoid coil resistance,
Need to start working backwards,

Inhibitor switch/loom connected
Temporary swap a starter relay with another one,

It almost sounds like a bad ground,
Can you hear the starter relay clicking ?

ECU/TCU linked ?

 

[Jeda]

Inhibitor switch/loom connected
Temporary swap a starter relay with another one,

As Kruising said, Inhibitor switch.
If it's connected properly, try shifting through the gears and back to park and then starting. Then try neutral.

 

[Immortality]

I'm not familiar with the column shift set up but it sounds like the shifter linkage might not be adjusted correctly so the inhibitor switch will be preventing the starter motor.

Test each fuse with a multimeter,
Measure the starter coil wire for volts,
Measure the solenoid coil resistance,
Need to start working backwards,

Inhibitor switch/loom connected
Temporary swap a starter relay with another one,

It almost sounds like a bad ground,
Can you hear the starter relay clicking ?

ECU/TCU linked ?

96 VS only has a PCM.

As far as I know, it was from 97 onward (VT and series 3 VS) that the inhibitor switch moved to the side of the transmission.