I'm stumped. Car started last week and I moved it over to pull the interior out. This week not only was the battery dead but after swapping out another, the starter will not turn the motor over. The idiot lights come on and the starter tries to engage, but a rapid clicking happens instead. I cleaned all the terminals off and checked continuity from battery to block, block to starter, and ignition wire to starter. Test light came on for all. Put this starter on another car, worked fine. Put ignition switch from Starfire on my 88, worked fine. Changed out the junction block, same clicking. The only line I have not changed is the starter line and the purple ignition line. Ground was checked as well. I also tried jumper cable from - side to frame, same clicking. IS there another relay that could interfere? The manual seems to indicate only the ignition switch can go bad. I'm losing it!

Are you absolutely sure the new battery is charged up enough to spin it over? This sounds like a combination weak battery and solenoid problem.

You may have a corroded junction to battery cable.

Did you knock anything loose when you were messing with interior? There's several courtesy lamp and lighter feeds that could wreak this havoc.

The interior is still out with the feeder wires not connected to anything. The starter in the car now is from my 88 which started that car so the solinoid I think should be good. I'll put in another battery again to try, I'll put the one in the 88 that is turning that motor over. The small purple ignition switch wire, would it need to be able to handle a lot of juice or does it simply trigger the 1 gauge wire to jolt the starter? I tested the purple wire at the starter when I turned the key and the test light lit. If it's a shaky wire, would that screw it up? The only thing left is if the heavy starter wire is carrying current to do a test light but not handle the actual job. The wire diagram shows the purple wire going from the switch to the safety relay then to the starter. If I shift to anything but P or N, the idiot lights stay on but the clicking noise is not there. Put the car in P or N and it clicks. That would seem to be the safety switch is operating properly, right? With it being a console, there should be nothing in the steering column that could screw this up.

For what its worth, the headlights work with all beams bright, no wavering or dimming. Haven't been able to get someone to watch them while trying to crank to see if they go out or what but with full beams that should mean the ground is good, right? It takes some good juice to light all 4 doesn't it?

Wow , It's a mystery ! From what I get,the car does not crank just clicks right? If you took a starter and a battery out of a car you know works you gotta think it's the wiring in the starfire. It does sound like a weak battery or a solenoid but it sound like you ruled that out and you have a different problem.
I don't know of any other relay that could interfere. Without seeing the car I can't think of anything else.

Right. It does not make that engaged but not turning starter sound, it just clicks. I'm going to retry with another battery this morning. I pulled the starters on both cars and put jumpers on them and they both engaged the gear. Since they were out I went ahead and exchanged each other and the previous "dead" one worked in the opposite car and the "good" one now doesn't. So, battery first and if nothing, I'll order the starter line from Fusick to replace it unless I've overlooked something.

I once had a similar problem and it turned out to be simple.

The main cable was corroded inside the insulation. Replaced cable and all was well. Try jumping directly to the starter from the battery and see if you crank. That is , bypass all the cables and see if you crank with the key. At least you will find out if the problems are in the cables.

Good luck, Dave

Wow, did I waste Sunday! Tried battery #3, started right up. Suck. I left it hooked up and will get back to it by the weekend and if its dead, I'll have to find the leak. Not looking forward to that. Next time I'll try several batteries. Can't believe it was that dumb.