Starter Problem??
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 275
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From: Louisville KY
Starter Problem??
Finally got my car running good, then I went to start it last night and nothing happened. Everything else is normal, can hear the fuel pump, digital clock comes on, voltage gauge reads good, just no starter, not even any clicking. So I swap in my spare and it does the same thing. I check all fuses/fusible links and all are fine. All starter and ignition switch connections are good. I'm lost on this one...
Gonna have both starters tested tommorrow, who knows, they could've both gone bad....
Gonna have both starters tested tommorrow, who knows, they could've both gone bad....
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 517
From: Behind a workbench, repairing FC Electronics.
Highly unlikely that both starters would have gone bad... I suggest you try hot wiring it, because I think you have an electrical problem near the ignition switch.
With the car in the air, on JACK STANDS, tranny in NEUTRAL, wheels CHOCKED, parking brake SET, crawl under.
There's the two big bolt connectors and a small lug connector.
One of the two big guys has a small pigtail that goes into the starter. One has a cable to the positive battery terminal. The small lug has a thin wire attached. Remove the small wire. Use a short test wire to go from the small lug to the big guy that has teh positive battery calbe on it. It should crank...
Use a test light or a multi meter between ground and the thin wire... It should read +12V when you turn the key to START.
With the car in the air, on JACK STANDS, tranny in NEUTRAL, wheels CHOCKED, parking brake SET, crawl under.
There's the two big bolt connectors and a small lug connector.
One of the two big guys has a small pigtail that goes into the starter. One has a cable to the positive battery terminal. The small lug has a thin wire attached. Remove the small wire. Use a short test wire to go from the small lug to the big guy that has teh positive battery calbe on it. It should crank...
Use a test light or a multi meter between ground and the thin wire... It should read +12V when you turn the key to START.
If you aren't blowing the fuse, and there's no clicking try this first. Turn the ignition key to 'on'. Run a jumper cable from the positive battery terminal to the starter end of the solenoid. If your starter is good, then it should spin the motor.
That technique won't push the gear out though, but it will tell you if the starter motor works.
After this, I'd pull the starter out and check the solenoid. It's pretty easy while you're still under the car. Check the connections.
I have a feeling that the ignition switch is bad on your car, if you aren't hearing a click. With a working ignition switch and a bad solenoid, you should hear a click when the key is turned to start. If you're not hearing anything, check the ignition switch. I've tried to list these fixes from easiest to most difficult.
That technique won't push the gear out though, but it will tell you if the starter motor works.
After this, I'd pull the starter out and check the solenoid. It's pretty easy while you're still under the car. Check the connections.
I have a feeling that the ignition switch is bad on your car, if you aren't hearing a click. With a working ignition switch and a bad solenoid, you should hear a click when the key is turned to start. If you're not hearing anything, check the ignition switch. I've tried to list these fixes from easiest to most difficult.
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