rodney87

Tonight was the second 11 pm fix session in the last 4 days. First my starter seized with the gear in the flywheel stranding me on a mountain top, I put in a brand new starter the next day. Tonight I think my starter relay went dead. My cars been clicking at me since I bought the car, I'd turn the key to start it and it'd click, try again once or twice and she'll start. I thought it was just bad grounds and decided to live with it but every once in a while there would be a different click coming from inside the dashboard somwhere. Tonight this death click woudn't go away, I tried tracking it down and found out that the little gray box behind the trailing coils was clicking. I'm pretty sure thats the starter relay. Its 1:03 am right now so I'll try taking it apart tomorrow to clean any contacts but I'm looking for some wisdom here. Is that actually the starter relay? Do they go out often? Has anyone else had this problem that could lend a tip or trick for me? I'm supposed to go to the beach in the morning with the girl in red and black from my avator, she's really hot and I dont wanna miss out cause of my car

SureShot

That is the main relay for the entire car.

It should only drop if its supply voltage gets way too low.

Start by looking for a weak connection in the primary cables.

The lights don't use that relay so turn them on and see if they go way dim when you try to start it.
It could just be that the battery is near death.

I have an on-line copy of the manuals at the link in my sig.
Download & print whatever you need.

H4Inf

Roll start until you are good with the starter.

First I would replace/clean all ground attachments, if that doesn't solve it, get a new/second hand starter, and charge your battery up

rodney87

My battery has a full charge, the lights dont dim that much when I try to start it, theres just that damn click. And the starter is only 3 days old and was tested at the store before I bought it, I watched so I know its good. I'll see about checking my grounds though.

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

have you checked your battery terminals?
what kind of voltage drop are you getting when you engage the starter?....do you have a multi-meter I should ask?

SureShot

VOLTAGE TEST
Engine running, headlights & heater fan on high:
Alternator post to alternator frame = 13.5-14 volts (verifies the alternator output)
alternator post to battery (+) = 0 volts (verifies the primary + wire)
alternator frame to battery (-) = 0 volts (verifies the primary ground)
Turn off the motor, but leave the lights on.
Battery (+) to battery (-) = ~12.5 volts and holds steady. (verifies battery)

rodney87

Just finsished doing a voltage test:
When I turn the key I get a click and no voltage drop
I tried jumping the car with another that was putting out 13 volts, nothing
I did notice a drop from 13 to 12.5 volts when I tried starting it with the jumpers on
Poped the clutch and had 14.4 volts at the starter, not surpriseing since I replaced it in the not to distant past
Across the terminals with the car runing was 13.7
Aternater + to bat + was 0. somthing far less then a volt
Alternater housing to bat - was a little higher then + to + but again didn't reach a full volt (.6 I think it was)
Alternater housing to alternater + was 14.4
Bat + to multiple spots in engine bay (fire wall, block, strut tower etc) was 12 volts with car off.

So far I can see that my charging system is fine, all electronics in the car work with no problems and the car runs fine once its started. That leads me to belive that its somewhere in the starting system. I got a brand new starter and enough juice to crank it but its just not getting any. Can anyone tell me where the starter relay is? I did a search and it said that it was the small grey box behind the trailing coils, which I why I checked that it was clicking and thought it was the root of my problems....

rodney87

Thats the little gray box if anyone didn't know what I was talking about, its tucked in the drivers side corner right next to the coil and clutch slave. It says Nippondenso 12V on the side but the connectors inside look clean. Damn, I'm almost postive its the relay thats causing my problems, maybe I'll have to hook up a push button start for the time being

BTW, I forgot to mention, my cars a 87 GXL and is also my DD *doh*

Go48

iTrader: (7)

Maybe these diagrams will help. As you will note from the wiring diagram, there are several devices in the starting circuit that can cause problems.

rodney87

*UPDATE*

-I checked my grounds
-My battery and starter are both good (connections, wires etc)
-My charging system is working fine
-I get 12.4 volts at the large terminal at the starter all the time
-The small tab on the starter only get about .5 volts when I turn the key
-I removed my clutch switch when I first got the car cause it wasn't working anyways, checked that wiring and its still good
-I found the blue connector under the trailing coil and jumped the black/white wire to the + bat terminal to check the starter funtion (found that during a search) and everthing worked fine
-That blue connector should mean I dont have a security relay, which would explain why my security light has never come on, but I would think a GXL with the light in the middle console would have the system to go along with it?
-I finally found out where the clicking from inside the dash is coming from:

The 10 amp fuse in this little basterd is still good, its got 4 connectors, one of which gets a 12.4 volt constant. I dont know what the other 3 are for? Is this a security system relay? I found it behind the right kick pannel on the passenger's side which is where the security relay is found (found that in the online manuel)
-I've yet to check the ignition switch, I'm searching for how to do that as I type

Anyone got any other ideas or do I have to hotwire it till I get back to college (I'm in the mechanics program) and ask my teacher.

rodney87

Ok folks, I seem to have figured it out. My ignition switch is getting power, it sends power out on ACC and ON, but its not sending any power out to the clutch switch-blue connector-starter when I turn it to start . So I either need to take it apart and hopefully get things working again, or buy a new one. I'd rather take it apart cause I'm cheap like that . What I cant figure out now is how to get the assembly off, I cant find anything doing a search...

H4Inf

Or just hookup a 'starter' button :P

Good work 99