Starter Help....yes ive used the search bar...

lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
in Engine & Drivetrain
So starter wont turn, so i searched...common things to check ive done. Grounds are clean, battery is supplying power to the starter. The main relay is fine (tested with a push start car fires right up) I connected power to the starter and it fires right up and car starts (using battery cable from battery to the little tab on the starter solenoid) That led me to believe there was something wrong telling the solenoid to engage. But where do i go from here? I dont want to be push starting and cable starting (battery cable from tab on solenoid to power) everywhere i go...any ideas where to go from here?

thanks
-Ken

Comments

  • turbo_tegturbo_teg Council Member
    take the starter out and have it tested....
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    Starter works fine, came out of a running
    car
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    Check your ignition switch. Do you have a FSM?
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    Ignition is brand new, i can hear the switch click when the key is turned to the "III" position. As for a FSM i assume you are referring to a Helms/Chiltons. I Have a helms yes
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    Whether it came out of a running car or not, still have it tested...
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    starter is fine. also bought a new one JUST IN CASE...nothing.
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    Did you check your switch and verify it is working>

    What part of your "ignition" is brand new? And what parts (OEM or aftermarket) did you use?

    When you are diagnosing problems you can never assume that a new part is functioning; you MUST check and verify each part/step per FSM (yes helms) or you will form terrible habits diagnosing problems.
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    Specify "Switch", the entire ignition (http://napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=ECHKS7147_0245051639)
    is brand new. Aftermarket (Napa) replaced due to i dont like sloppy keys. i followed helms without results. i bi-passed NSS, checked for clicking of MRH, listened for clicking of ignition when key is on the III, all seems normal. If starter was bad, correct me if i'm wrong, "Jumping it" (Direct power from outside source) would not turn the solenoid.
  • bikewrenchbikewrench Wagonist
    Clutch switch? Look at the wiring diagrams in your helms. Find all conections between the starter and the ignition switch, clutch switch is the only thing I can think of off the top of my head. With a voltmeter check for voltage at every Connection till you find where it is not getting voltage. May help to have a friend turn the key while you check for voltage.
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    Thanks bikewrench ill look in the AM. Sailor Jerry is calling my name :)
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    Well if you replaced the entire assembly then yes, you replaced it. The contacts are what wear out. I'd still test, just to make sure (assuming your neutral safety switch is ok - which you can disconnect).

    Check the Black/WHT wire coming from the 4P connecter off the ignition switch - that is the starter wire signal that goes from ignition switch, through NSS and to the starter. That is all there is in the system, pretty simple stuff. So: if you starter IS cranking (when you jump positive battery to solenoid) then its good.

    If you are totally sure your ignition switch is good (that napa part said for automatic only, not sure whats up with that - worth looking into), then it has to be your neutral safety switch OR an open somewhere in between (on the black/white) source from the ignition to the starter (which includes the NSS).
  • civtec350civtec350 Wagonist
    make sure the little rubber bump stop for the clutch switch didnt desintegrate, or just fall out.
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    Looks like he and Jerry had some fun
  • lostinmiselflostinmiself Band Wagon
    noahrexion wrote: »
    Looks like he and Jerry had some fun
    LOL yea we do,

    sorry for the delay with 10h work days and working on my dads cars, and being a father my own cars fall short of attention. I believe somewhere there is a short, or bad ground or something between the starter 'noid and key. I removed the NSS switch and looped it (first thing i tried) i may just park it for winter soon and pull it back up next season
  • traebyrdtraebyrd Band Wagon
    I know this is quite dumb but back on my old ef hatch I tried forever to find out why my starter didn't work. I eventually replaced the starter, and it still didn't :/ but guess what it was....the fuse..lmao, start with the basics first.
  • noahrexionnoahrexion Wagonist
    lostinmiself wrote: »
    LOL yea we do,

    sorry for the delay with 10h work days and working on my dads cars, and being a father my own cars fall short of attention. I believe somewhere there is a short, or bad ground or something between the starter 'noid and key. I removed the NSS switch and looped it (first thing i tried) i may just park it for winter soon and pull it back up next season


    Weak! Fix it! Get out the multimeter and start checking continuity between the sections I mentioned above in my post. If you have a helms or OEM it'll me super easy to find out whats up. Your shit cranks with battery direct, you know its something dumb. Git r' done!
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