Starter wire hook up

How do I test starter solenoid on a Pontiac Grand Prix GT? What studs do I cross over?

Hi, I need some serious help with my 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP it involves hooking the wires back up to the starter, but first a little background.

Two nights ago I finally got my starter off and out, I went had it tested, it was bad. Bought a new one, took it back to my car, got underneath, and realized there were more than two wires that needed to be hooked back up to the starter. It was so dark the night before I did not see how many were connected to the big bolt.

After searching for a couple hours online, I never found out what these wires were or which ones go where. Finally I gave in. I hooked up the big fat wire, and the small one (the only two I remember being hooked up). I left the other two hanging. The car started right up, I drove it about twenty minutes until I slowly starter losing power from the battery, and luckily I got it off the road before it shut off completely.

What did I do wrong? And what are those two wires? They appeared to be the same gauge, both bigger than the smaller wire I hooked up, and smaller than the big fat one! Please help, I am a serious noob at cars, and I have no other way to work and back. Please and thank you, Bret

Does it matter in what order they go on the large terminal? And how important is the splash cover? I do not remember there being one. Thanks for your input.

Six cylinder front wheel drive automatic 100,000 miles.

My friends and I made a stupid move and forgot to label the wires that were on the original starter and forgot which went where.
Could you send me a picture or describe which wires go where? There is a large red wire, a cluster of wires, and a small wire that obviously goes to the small post. The other two posts are large and could fit either, but I am certain the large red one fits on the upper post when installed. There is a small wire coming out of the starter and I am certain that that one is on the lower post. I just cannot remember if the cluster is on the lower or the upper.

I took starter off to clean connections and forgot where all wires went.

There are two studs and two other large hole eyelets besides the large big one that goes to battery.

Thanks, I will check that out.

Six cylinder front wheel drive automatic.

I just placed a used starter solenoid in my car, and I do not know how to wire it correctly.

I replace the starter but got the wires mixed up so I do not know which wires hook to what. So anyway, I fix the problem it cranks but there is one wire that is not hooked up and now the alternator is going bad or draining the battery. I hooked the main hot wire to the top post from the battery then the other two little wires to the small post, but I still have one wire that is not hooked up. Can you please tell me where does it hook to or does it hook up at all? It is like an orange looking color probably mixed brown and it is a little bigger than the little wires and smaller than the battery main wire?