Starter troubleshooting.
08-10-08, 01:28 AM
#1
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Starter troubleshooting.
My starter was starting to act weird when I tried to start my car, turning the motor over really really slowly. After about a week of it acting like that it just stopped all together. Now when I turn the key, I head a whine, I am guessing from my fuel pump.
There isn't any clicking, or anything like that. There is a wire going to the starter, thin gauge, and clips to the top. I think it is tied to the ignition switch. But, I checked this with a multimeter with the key in the position that STARTS the car. And, there was no voltage. Does it just ground the system, or does it apply voltage? Any special way to see if maybe the ignition is somehow foobar'd vs. it being the starter?
The reason I assume it is the starter is because of it's laziness in starting my motor the past week or so. I had a similar problem about 4 months ago, but when I replaced my battery, it started just fine. So, I assumed my old battery wasn't putting out enough cold cranking amps. But, this battery is pretty new. My alternator only seems to charge at 13.5V when I am not at idle, or slightly above. If all my lights are on, and i press on the brakes, it drops the voltage to 12V. But, could this mess with the cold cranking amps of the battery?
Checked the battery with a DMM and it showed 12V+.
Don't know if I messed anything up with another check, but what I did was put the key into the ON position, like if the car is normally running, and then clipped an alligator clip onto a black / white wire going to the starter, thin ignition one I think, and touched it to ground, nothing happened, then I touched it to +12V, and I saw my fuel pressure gauge jump and could hear the fuel flowing..... which, i thought was strange. I was hoping to "hot wire" my car this way and bypass the START part of my ignition. Didn't work though.
So, any ideas? Any information I can provide? Thanks!
There isn't any clicking, or anything like that. There is a wire going to the starter, thin gauge, and clips to the top. I think it is tied to the ignition switch. But, I checked this with a multimeter with the key in the position that STARTS the car. And, there was no voltage. Does it just ground the system, or does it apply voltage? Any special way to see if maybe the ignition is somehow foobar'd vs. it being the starter?
The reason I assume it is the starter is because of it's laziness in starting my motor the past week or so. I had a similar problem about 4 months ago, but when I replaced my battery, it started just fine. So, I assumed my old battery wasn't putting out enough cold cranking amps. But, this battery is pretty new. My alternator only seems to charge at 13.5V when I am not at idle, or slightly above. If all my lights are on, and i press on the brakes, it drops the voltage to 12V. But, could this mess with the cold cranking amps of the battery?
Checked the battery with a DMM and it showed 12V+.
Don't know if I messed anything up with another check, but what I did was put the key into the ON position, like if the car is normally running, and then clipped an alligator clip onto a black / white wire going to the starter, thin ignition one I think, and touched it to ground, nothing happened, then I touched it to +12V, and I saw my fuel pressure gauge jump and could hear the fuel flowing..... which, i thought was strange. I was hoping to "hot wire" my car this way and bypass the START part of my ignition. Didn't work though.
So, any ideas? Any information I can provide? Thanks!
08-10-08, 07:52 AM
#3
that thin gauge wire you mentioned on the starter, that should gets 12 volts when the key is turned on. That wire powers the solenoid on the starter.
You can test the starter by applying 12 volts to that wire, or just take the wire off and apply it to the spade connector on the starter itself. If it cranks fine, then you have a wiring problem or something along there.
If you dont want to go under the car to do it, you can try it at the Blk/white wire comming off the Starter relay (on the driver fender). That blk/white wire runs from that relay all the way to the starter.
You can test the starter by applying 12 volts to that wire, or just take the wire off and apply it to the spade connector on the starter itself. If it cranks fine, then you have a wiring problem or something along there.
If you dont want to go under the car to do it, you can try it at the Blk/white wire comming off the Starter relay (on the driver fender). That blk/white wire runs from that relay all the way to the starter.
Last edited by Black Knight RX7 FC3S; 08-10-08 at 08:03 AM.
08-10-08, 10:34 AM
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that thin gauge wire you mentioned on the starter, that should gets 12 volts when the key is turned on. That wire powers the solenoid on the starter.
You can test the starter by applying 12 volts to that wire, or just take the wire off and apply it to the spade connector on the starter itself. If it cranks fine, then you have a wiring problem or something along there.
If you dont want to go under the car to do it, you can try it at the Blk/white wire comming off the Starter relay (on the driver fender). That blk/white wire runs from that relay all the way to the starter.
You can test the starter by applying 12 volts to that wire, or just take the wire off and apply it to the spade connector on the starter itself. If it cranks fine, then you have a wiring problem or something along there.
If you dont want to go under the car to do it, you can try it at the Blk/white wire comming off the Starter relay (on the driver fender). That blk/white wire runs from that relay all the way to the starter.
08-10-08, 11:45 AM
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Awesome. Thanks guys. When I put 12V to it, it doesn't crank or anything, so I am guessing the solenoid is dead. Bummer. haha. Oh well.
08-10-08, 11:52 AM
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What did you put 12 volts to? You should have a constant 12 volts at the big terminal that the battery cable goes to, take a jumper wire (safety, jackstands neutral, ebrake on, don't get smashed, safety glasses don't be dumb) and short the 12 volts from the big 12v terminal to the little spade connector that is switched. It doesn't do anything at all? Everything is grounded ok? Probably time to replace the starter.
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08-10-08, 11:57 AM
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I used a clip and shorted the switched terminal to +12V. It just turned my pump fuel pump. I saw my fuel pressure jump, and the starter did nothing. hahah.
08-10-08, 12:16 PM
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08-10-08, 02:19 PM
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yea.... weird huh? LoL. I am going to look at the wiring diagram and see what's up. haha, I don't think my fuel pump should be kicking on, but maybe.....
I am guessing that the wire I tapped into is probably hooked into a circuit the other direction and turns the pump on when the key is in the START position too.
Strange stuff though.
I am also going to check to see if I am draining somewhere using an amn meter.... i think that is what it is called.
I am guessing that the wire I tapped into is probably hooked into a circuit the other direction and turns the pump on when the key is in the START position too.
Strange stuff though.
I am also going to check to see if I am draining somewhere using an amn meter.... i think that is what it is called.
08-10-08, 03:22 PM
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No. The fuel pump coming on is the way things work. Anytime you put the key to START, you also put 12vdc on one of the TWO coils in the Circuit Opening Relay which in turn puts power to the fuel pump. The OTHER coil in the Circuit Opening Relay has power on it already and is looking for a ground. That ground come along when the vane/flap in the AFM move aft at least a eighth inch OR when you jumper the Fuel Pump Check Connector. PUt a gnd on that OTHER coil in the Circuit Opening Relay and the relay pulls in a cause the fuel pump to work.
If your under the car at the starter, you can take the shank of a common screwdriver and make contact b/t the small blade on the solenoid and the LARGE wire on that solenoid. The starter should turn over if the starter assy is any good. When it turns over, and the transmisison is in gear, the car will move fwd and run you over and cause you to become cripple or daid.
If your under the car at the starter, you can take the shank of a common screwdriver and make contact b/t the small blade on the solenoid and the LARGE wire on that solenoid. The starter should turn over if the starter assy is any good. When it turns over, and the transmisison is in gear, the car will move fwd and run you over and cause you to become cripple or daid.
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