325i starter motor wiring

[dje30]

Can anyone tell me what each wire on the starter does/is for
Large ones I assume are battery and alternator
What are the other two?

[dje30]

Oh and car won't start with diagnostic plug start up

[Grrrmachine]

From the wiki:

Green/black goes to the unloader relays and provides a signal causing them to drop out when you are starting the car. The other smaller wire on the solenoid is the one that provides the power to pull the solenoid in.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ter#Wiring


So do you have a non-start issue, or are you just curious?

[dje30]

It won't start yes - won't crank

Have power at the ignition barrel
At the connection in the glove box
At the c101 both side
The green and black wire has 12v switched live

[kam-325i]

car wont start with diagnostic plug start-up, that is only for turning the engine over...

[dje30]

It won't spin over doing the diagnostic plug way

[Grrrmachine]

If the starter does not swing over, the starter is faulty.

Or the battery is flat

[ethrty]

have also come across this using early starter motor in a facelift car, Im going to assume that you are just experiencing a faulty one, and this doesnt follow on from an earlier change exercise?

[dje30]

99% sure the starter is dead
I have a spare does anyone know how to test it on the bench so I know if it's good or not?

[dje30]

Sorry and the difference between facelift and pre facelift

[Brianmoooore]

99% sure the starter is dead
I have a spare does anyone know how to test it on the bench so I know if it's good or not?

Connect battery negative to the motor case. Connect battery positive to the outer large terminal on the solenoid. Connect the larger of the smaller terminals (post facelit) or only smaller terminal (pre facelift) to battery positive, and the pinion should move over and spin.
Doesn't check the torque of the motor, of course, just that it runs.


Pre facelift motors are often physically larger, and don't have the fourth terminal. This can be overcome, if need be, by changing the small ring terminal on the green/black wire that goes to the fourth terminal for a much larger one, and connecting it to the inner large terminal on the solenoid.

[dje30]

when testing my one on the bench the gear comes out but wont spin?

[Brianmoooore]

Short across the two large terminals on the solenoid with a screwdriver blade, with the battery still connected.

[dje30]

I'll try it tomorrow as I'm home now

[dje30]

I'll try it tomorrow as I'm home now
Thanks for your help I'm very grateful