My First Setback - SUCCESS!, Looks like a bad starter or solenoid Options

[turk22]

Hey, so it seems like my starter may have crapped out. Worst part is I think its my fault. I went to start the car, the car was in gear, and it engaged, the car moved forward a little (an inch), and I immediately let off the key. Since that moment, when trying to start, I get a loud click from the starter (or the relay?), but nothing else.

After looking at all the related threads, here's what I've done to test:


- Tried to jump the starter from the yellow wire terminal on the solenoid to the positive on the starter with a screwdriver, just got a weak spark, and the starter did nothing.

- Tried to jump the starter from the positive to the negative side with a jumper cable (If I understand correctly the starter should spin, but the flywheel not engage?). Nothing happened, not a sound, click, or anything.

From what I've been reading it seems like a bad starter.

I know there is probably more to test/eliminate to make sure this is starter issue. But electrical is not my strong suit. I have purchased a multimeter.

- I believe that I need to test the voltage from the yellow lead of the solenoid while cranking the engine. Question: Just ground the meter to the tranny case?

The car was starting fine, and after that one incident, never again. I bump started it, and drove around the block a few time (hoping the starter was just stuck or something), but no luck, same click, no start.

What I'm hoping to do, is rule out other possibilites and then I guess order the replacement starter if that's what needed.

Turk

[turk22]

Well not much success today:

I put the battery on a charger last night, it was reading 12.7 across the poles when I got home from work.

Today, I tried running a jumper cable from the negative post on the battery to the starter "mounting bolt" (Jeff, I think that was where I wasn't being clear, not the solenoid bolt, but the bolt that mounts the starter to the engine). Tried to start with the same annoying click, even with this "direct ground".

I was able to check the voltage at the positive bolt on the back of the solenoid, and it was also 12.6 volts.

I removed the battery completly, and the cable that connects the battery to the chassis of the car, and cleaned all the contacts and battery posts. I also removed the tranny ground from the bottom of the trunk, and cleaned that up...but I could not for the life of me remove the tranny strap from the tranny, just could not contort myself to even get a wrench on the bolt.

I attached jumper cables to my daily driver, and tried to start the car, with that cars additonal power, same annoying click.

I was not able to check the voltage at the yellow wire (detached from the solenoid), I need someone else to help with turning key.

I'm kinda depressed now, because I'm really not sure what else I need to check. I have to bump start the car to go to the BMV tomorrow to get the VIN inspection done. I need it to get the Title transferred.

any suggestions welcome, I'm at a loss...

Turk

[rnellums]

If I wasn't in St. Louis right now I would swing by tomorrow and see if I could help you figure it out.

You have swapped starters, so probably not that right? this means it must be electrical related.

There are only three wires that go to the Starter,

1 - black heavy gauge to battery positive
1 - red heavy gauge to ignition system and then ground
1 - yellow wire to ignition system (I am assuming this operates the solenoid - don't have Haynes in front of me)

The starter pole reading 12 volts means the cable from the battery is good

if you can measure resistance, disconnect the battery, and measure from the starter pole(was hooked direct to battery) to the chassis(ground) with the key off it should be infinite resistance, if you can have someone turn the key to the start position, it should drop to zero. (I think). Ifd it does, that part of the circuit is golden.

last, check that the yellow wire is getting voltage when it should.

** I could be totally wrong on just about all of this. When I get back to Lafayette Sunday I can measure resistances and voltages on my 74 if it would help.

-Ross

Well not much success today:

I put the battery on a charger last night, it was reading 12.7 across the poles when I got home from work.

Today, I tried running a jumper cable from the negative post on the battery to the starter "mounting bolt" (Jeff, I think that was where I wasn't being clear, not the solenoid bolt, but the bolt that mounts the starter to the engine). Tried to start with the same annoying click, even with this "direct ground".

I was able to check the voltage at the positive bolt on the back of the solenoid, and it was also 12.6 volts.

I removed the battery completly, and the cable that connects the battery to the chassis of the car, and cleaned all the contacts and battery posts. I also removed the tranny ground from the bottom of the trunk, and cleaned that up...but I could not for the life of me remove the tranny strap from the tranny, just could not contort myself to even get a wrench on the bolt.

I attached jumper cables to my daily driver, and tried to start the car, with that cars additonal power, same annoying click.

I was not able to check the voltage at the yellow wire (detached from the solenoid), I need someone else to help with turning key.

I'm kinda depressed now, because I'm really not sure what else I need to check. I have to bump start the car to go to the BMV tomorrow to get the VIN inspection done. I need it to get the Title transferred.

any suggestions welcome, I'm at a loss...

Turk