I recently began having issues with my starter. I have a 96 Sunfire 2.4 5 spd. I know the starter isn't working and pulled it off to replace it. After getting the mounting bolts off and pulling it down to remove the wiring I noticed that there were 3 wires going to it. I thought that there were only 2, so now I am a little confused. There was a small wire going to the small stud, and a large wire going to the bigger stud, this is all that I thought was supposed to be attached to the starter, but there was also a smaller wire going to the large stud. It was a small red wire that had a section of black/yellow then a small length of black wire and another black/yellow section. at the end it looked like it was supposed to be attached to a small washer/ring terminal, but it seems like it was broken off.

I don't know if it was part of an aftermarket alarm/remote starter or if it is part of the factory wiring. I took a few pics of the wires and the ends that look like it broke off of.





Please let me know what if anything is wrong with this as I really need to get the car going again soon. Thanks!

On my 2200 LN2.That red wire with spliced in black/yellow strip wire goes to the big terminal on the starter solenoid.GM had a recall along time ago with the ignition switch.Dealer will install a relay. http://www.arfc.org/autos/chevrolet/cavalier/recalls/000020894000079133000000213/recall.aspx

On my 2200 its.
Three wires going to big terminal.
One wire to the small terminal.
One black wire grounded to the back of the bolt on the starter.

2.4L should only have 2 wires going to the starter. Big red one is power to the starter. And the Small red wire goes to the solenoid on the starter.

I also found another wire that is goijg to the alt that looks pike it was just kinda spliced together into the constant of the starter. I am starting to think that the person that had the car before me did some hack job wiring.