coldfire

iTrader: (1)

alright, i am trying to figure out why my car won't start.
here is some history:

a little while back (few months) i had a problem with a worn starter. i got another starter used that was working fine.

one day i suddenly had a problem starting the car. i would go to turn the ignition switch, and i would hear a clicking and then nothing. all my power went dead (my horn wouldn't even work. i could get my power back if i disconnected the battery, but the same thing would happen again if i tried to start it. i eventually got rid of the problem by jiggling the top little signal wire on the starter (the one that slides on the little metal prong on the top of the starter) and i wrapped the hell out of it with duct tape. this seemed to work for some odd reason

2 days ago i went to start my car for the third time that day. all i heard was a click when i turn the key, but the starter doesn't turn at all. this time my power doesn't go away, and i can keep turning the key as many times as i want, it just goes 'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK'
i haven't gone under the car yet to check things out, but i would like to get some advice on what it could be. this is what i am thinking so far

- broken/worn wire between ignition switch and magnetic switch
- loose wiring and/or connectors on the magnetic switch
- burnt magnetic switch contact plate or improper contact
- broken wire in magnetic switch pull-in coil/holding coil
- interlock switch malfunction
- something seriously wrong with the starter (wiring or mechanical) that it is not getting any power to turn


i don't know if this helps, but my car has ALWAYS been able to crank if you leave it in gear and the clutch is engaged. this means the neutral switch is not working right...
i have also checked all major grounds, so i don't think they are the problem, and i have tried hitting the starter several times, which hasn't worked yet.

anyways, any thoughts would be appreciated.

Csefiroth0

not that this is relevant to your case or anything but the same thing happened to my 7 this morning... tried to start it but no crank... not even the clicking. bummer

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

yeah, i get a clicking...if there is no clicking at all i would check if you have power in the first place, and then move on to wiring and magnetic switch...

WAYNE88N/A

Hmm, let me try to group these together:

Can't be a broken interlock switch, or you'd get no solenoid clicking at all (I'm assuming here you are talking about the starter solenoid that's doing the clicking).

Got a meter? Connect the positive probe (with alligator clips if you have them) to the little lug on the starter solenoid (the one your duct-taped wire is going to). Connect the negative to a ground, on the starter body if you wish. Turn the key- what's the voltage? If it's over 10v, most likely you have a starter problem. Under 10v, it's something in the ignition circuit. Unwrap your duct tape job and take a good look at the terminal/wire junction. If it's nice & tight, rewrap with electrical tape, that's what they make that stuff for...

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

wayne i was waiting for you to chime in

okay, well i was thinking that it may not be a problem with the magnetic switch, since i hear the clicking. i think i first have to verify it is indeed the solenoid clicking, because it could be relays also.

i am going to try out your test as soon as i get a multimeter. i thought the voltage we want to check if we are < or > is 8V, not 10?

and also the only reason i used duct tape was because it was too greasy and dirty down there for electrical tape to stick...in any case it was just extra security, because i don't think it was going to come off anyways...

WAYNE88N/A

8 volts is per the FSM, but that's awfully low if you have a charged batt, that's why I go with 10v

Get some brake care, contact cleaner, acetone, SOMETHING, and clean up those poor terminals down there, lol...

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

okay, haven't got hold of a multimeter yet, but i went under the car today to check things out.
all the wires on the starter looked fine (at least nothing was broken). the click sound is definetly coming from the starter. my duct tape job was fine and the connector is secure. i tried giving the starter a few whacks and that didn't do anything.

i think the thing to remember here is that on the day it wouldn't start, i started it once in the morning, and then again in the evening, and then half an hour later when i went to start it again it wouldn't start. the first 2 times it started with no drama...that must be able to narrow down the possibilities...

WAYNE88N/A

You gotta see what kind of voltage is getting down there, that's going to determine which way to go with the troubleshooting from there. Unless you want to throw parts at it, in which case go with the starter

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

okay, i just checked the voltage with a multimeter. assuming i did it right (i connected the positive to the "S" spade-type terminal on the top of the starter, and then just grounded to the chassis), and i got a reading of 11.4-11.7 V
so this is definetly greater than both 8 V and 10 V...so this means my starter is done? i really don't get it, but i guess i need to either replace or rebuild it...damn

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

okay, i just ripped out the starter and did a no-load test as per the FSM. i don't know why it isn't turning when i turn the key, because when i did this test it sure as hell started spinning pretty good.
i got a voltage drop of about 2 V at the battery, but i couldn't test out current to determine load...

anyways, if it is turning fine during this test, why wasn't it in my car? i am going to put thke starter back in and see if it works in the car...if it does this could be an intermitent problem...

Wayne, any ideas?

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

okay, TOTALLY WIERD. i put the starter back in, and then i go to turn the key, and then click, and then i LOOSE ALL POWER. not even my horn or any interior lights work! but then i disconnect the battery and reconnect, and i get power back. i try it again and same thing.
however, i kept trying this over a few times, and then all of a sudden i went to turn the key once and it STARTED! i was like, WTF?

so how exactly can the starter not work AND take away all power? it seems to be starting fine now, but i still don't trust it, and i really have NO clue what was going on...
help please!

therotaryrocket

If the starter clicks, when you take it off take the plate off the back of the starter solenoid and clean the carbon off of the two brass bolts, you may have to re-sauder the brass bolts up to the factory specs. Loss of power completely sounds like a bad battery connection. Try something like that.

Rotory Nut

Just a thought, but have you checked to make sure you have good connectionb at the battery terminals? If there is corrosion buildup it can weeken the connection over time, causing it show a massave drop in power, only a click at the starter solenoid. You messed with the terminals numerous times and it finally started? Sounds like bad terminal connections. Just a hunch though.

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

good suggestions.

i think i will definetly be ripping apart the starter for a good look and inspection.

as for the battery terminals, i've checked this before and i don't think it is the problem. i've had the battery load tested at a battery shop, and it checked out fine. i've cleaned the terminals a bit. they are a bit chewed up, bit no corrosion whatsoever...
it seems that when i loose all power like i was saying, there is something in the circuit that screws up, and then only resets after you take away the power (disconnect the battery) and then reconnect.
i have also checked the major grounds and they look fine through a visual inspection. always hard to tell if there may be some wire somewhere that is bad, but i would imagine a total loss of power would narrow down the choices a fair bit, right?

i don't know...i was thinking of replacing as many of the major wires that i can...don't know if that would eliminate the problem, but no harm getting new wires...