is there a starter relay switch on a 1980 firebird

I looked online partsbook, I didn't see starter relay. Make sure battery has a full charge and connections all good. Two voltage circuits at starter solenoid, the solenoid sits on top of starter motor. One circuit comes from battery, hot all the time. The other voltage circuit goes hot with key in the crank position and is wired through neutral switch for automatic transmission. You can use test light to check for voltage. The starter motor grounds through engine block. Any testing at starter motor make sure transmission is in park or neutral and parking brake is set. You could probably jump the starter solenoid on the proper terminals to see if starter motor will crank the engine, but, make sure the vehicle is out of gear and can't move.

No wonder my husband could not find one. Thank you for your quick reply. The car would not start after the ignition stuck on and the starter was still turning even though the car was running. What a noise and it went on for almost a minute before jiggling the ignition. Then the car would not start up again. Could we have ruined the starter? It is not that old and it is a high performance starter.

I'd have to check starter drive gear teeth and flywheel teeth. The terrible noise might be caused by the teeth not meshing. It will make a heck of a noise. You could take starter motor off, lay it on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from starter motor to charged battery. At the least it should kick out drive gear and spin. Some of the national brand auto stores will test the starter motor for you.

Thank you. Think it will be in the mechanics hands now...…

Hope you get it going your way?