rico05

Ok, yesterday, I tried to reground my electrical system. Did it wrong, saw smoke, and it would not start. I waited for 30 minutes, and it kicked right over. This morning, it started right up. Now, no juice. It sounds like it wants to start, but it just won't. All electronics work, and I can hear the starter click. I tried the EGI fuse trick in case it was flooed, but to no avail! Help is greatly needed!

No7Yet

Did you check all your fuses? Did you kill your battery? Alternator? You did undo whatever caused you to see smoke, didn't you???

Brandon

(remember, electronics run on magic smoke. if you let out the smoke, they won't run anymore )

rico05

All evil wires are off. I think the battery is fine, seeing as all electronics are fine. The thing is, it started up fine 3 hours ago! (noon)

HAILERS

Let it get dark outside. Turn the headlights on. Try to start the car. Did the light get reeeeeel dim, or did they just dim slightly? If just slightly, and you heard the starter click, I say bad starter. Don't see how your previous actions could have caused that. Put the car on jacks, out of gear. Get under the car. See the small wire on the blade on the starter? Get a piece of wire and jumper b/t that blade on the starter and the large wire on the starter. Did the starter whip on over???? If it just went click, click, click, probably a bum starter solenoid. Or possibly a bad ground wire from the starter where it attaches to the tramsmission/starter bolt. I say starter solenoid.

No7Yet

Good writeup, Hailers, but I think he just flooded the hell out of it.

Do the ATF trick and get back to us

Brandon

rico05

It started fine this morning. I have no idea why it would go bad in 3 hours! I have flooded it before, and this is nothing what it sounds like! All fuses are fine, all electrics are fine. And I can't wait till dark, nor do I have any way to get it up on jacks. It is in a parking lot at my dorm. I can't beleive this, It worked fine 3 HOURS AGO!

rico05

Any more help?

No7Yet

Well, "it just won't" is all the description you gave us... so we've not got much to work with. perhaps a better description is forthcoming? I know it! You're writing it up now!

Brandon

rico05

Ok, it "groans." It sounds like it is trying to start, but just can't. I turned on the headlights, and they dimmed a little when I tried to turn it over. All electrics work. Audible click from engine(starter?). Not flooded, as no gas smell. I am prepared to sell it, as I am tired of having a car that is so tempramental. Mabye an MR2 would be nice...

rico05

Help!(whimpers) At this point, I just need to fix this. i have decided to sell my beast and go on something that is a little tougher to break!

No7Yet

Either battery, starter motor, starter solenoid. Are you hearing multiple clicks or just one? Either way, this doesn't look like something you're gonna be able to fix in an hour, anyway. Both of those things can die all of the sudden. Try banging (hard!) on your starter with a 2x4. That may buy you a few more starts (then again it may not). And remember, this isn't a rotary-specific problem

Is your car a manual? Try push-starting it, if you've got the space and have GOT to go.

Brandon

Grizzly

Have u got an Alarm on it (no i dont want to steal it) Dont laff, I went on Holladay last year and left my Rx in the capable hands of my Pal, Anyway to cut a long story short the guy comes out to my car to find he's left the lights on, not a problem he'll jump it of his car so he puts his leads on his car then puts the leads the wrong way round on mine. i dont know if it smoked but it started then stoped dead not to go again, when i came to look at it there was no fuel so strait away i thought Fuel pump! with my trusty Electrical tester i set to work testing everything back to the Alarm. In a way i was happy it did'nt do big damage but i had only just had it fitted for peace of mind while i was away.

So Check u have a Spark then Fuel if no Fuel its easy. electrical tester and check where the power feed stops and u have ya problem.

Hope this helps (no taking the P**s)

Grizzly

Sorry did'nt read all the Replys. So it clicks? Does it turn it over or not? this sounds like a dodgy starter, When the bushes go the starter will click (starter switch/relay) this is usaly caused with wear not electrical fault. It may also be stuck so try puting it in gear and rocking the car so the engine moves or smack the starter with a hammer.

Also if u can try another battery on it. But is i say if u can turn it over its ither Spark,Compretion or Fuel as u have had it running i would rule out Compretion so the big question is does it turn over?

HAILERS

Yeah, I'm just still a little confused. What I'd like to see written is *no, the engine does not rotate the slightests bit when I try to start it, I just hear a clicking when I turn the key*. Thats the message I have gotten from the above, although there is the suggestion that at times the motor actually turns over, but the starter is just barely turning it over and make that famous groaning noise of a starter that is going kaput or has a marginal ground. If your going to school, need a reliable car and really do not have the time to mess with it each and every day, I say keep it as a hobby and buy ........whatever floats your boat. It sounds like your in a situation where you can't be messing around with cars and need to keep your priorities in line. Finish school??????? Aggie?

rico05

Ok, I had a friend listen. he said it sounds like the starter, not the engine. The engine is not turning. It is the starter, according to him. I cannot afford to just buy another caar. i have to sell this one, i f i want to even begin to consider buying another one!

Bambam7

This happens once in a while- Does everything go sortof dead for a few seconds after?
My guess is the ground on tha battery, OR the positive on the battery.
They can feel like they are tight, but sometimes are not. The high current drain of the starter is too much for the so-so connection.
Take both terminals off, clean them, and then reattach them. Should work
Once in a while my car would do that, cause I had a loose/broken ground terminal connector. I turn it a bit- and it's fine!!


Good luck