My starter's not starting...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
My starter's not starting...
OK, its not my Vette, but need advice anyway...
My 99 Jeep Wrangler starter wont spin the motor. Been running and starting fine, then yesterday, drove to the bank, went in, came out, Jeep wouldnt start..Starter initially "wanted" to spin the motor, then immediately wouldnt, seemed like battery at first. Had it towed home.
I have removed starter, had it bench checked... passed.
Battery checked...passed
Starter relay is functioning properly.
Now when I turn ignition to start, circuits are made, but starter doesnt make a sound!
Can a starter pass a bench test, but not have enough "ooomph" to turn the motor?? I have checked and tightened both grounds, to the motor and to the frame. I even "shorted" the 2 contacts on the starter to bypass the ignition switch and relays..nothing.
HELP!!!
My 99 Jeep Wrangler starter wont spin the motor. Been running and starting fine, then yesterday, drove to the bank, went in, came out, Jeep wouldnt start..Starter initially "wanted" to spin the motor, then immediately wouldnt, seemed like battery at first. Had it towed home.
I have removed starter, had it bench checked... passed.
Battery checked...passed
Starter relay is functioning properly.
Now when I turn ignition to start, circuits are made, but starter doesnt make a sound!
Can a starter pass a bench test, but not have enough "ooomph" to turn the motor?? I have checked and tightened both grounds, to the motor and to the frame. I even "shorted" the 2 contacts on the starter to bypass the ignition switch and relays..nothing.
HELP!!!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Did that...Hooked "other" battery directly to Jeep cables...No joy...then hooked jumper cables to ends of Jeep battery cables. Again, no joy.
Havent tried replacing battery cables yet.
Havent tried replacing battery cables yet.
Last edited by MakoShark72; Dec 23, 2007 at 08:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
Going out to try the hammer!
UPDATE
The hammer method got some results!!! I whacked it a couple oftimes and the starter did engage, very briefly. Tried starter again..nothing. Whacked it, starter engaged. Tried again...nothing. Whacked, engaged. I'm seeing a pattern here. I'm now suspecting a bad starter, even though it bench tested GOOD at NAPA.
Opinions?
Last edited by MakoShark72; Dec 23, 2007 at 09:05 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Just went out and connected my battery + terminal to the starter + post with my jumper cables, thus taking the battery cable out of the equation. Turned the key...nothing. The starter relay is working, as power goes to the solenoid when the key is turned to ignition. Also verifies the ignition switch is working. Any chance a less than perfect ground would cause this???
Going out to try the hammer!
Going out to try the hammer!
some starters can give out with no warning..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Just went out and connected my battery + terminal to the starter + post with my jumper cables, thus taking the battery cable out of the equation. Turned the key...nothing. The starter relay is working, as power goes to the solenoid when the key is turned to ignition. Also verifies the ignition switch is working. Any chance a less than perfect ground would cause this???
Going out to try the hammer!
UPDATE
The hammer method got some results!!! I whacked it a couple oftimes and the starter did engage, very briefly. Tried starter again..nothing. Whacked it, starter engaged. Tried again...nothing. Whacked, engaged. I'm seeing a pattern here. I'm now suspecting a bad starter, even though it bench tested GOOD at NAPA.
Opinions?
Going out to try the hammer!
UPDATE
The hammer method got some results!!! I whacked it a couple oftimes and the starter did engage, very briefly. Tried starter again..nothing. Whacked it, starter engaged. Tried again...nothing. Whacked, engaged. I'm seeing a pattern here. I'm now suspecting a bad starter, even though it bench tested GOOD at NAPA.
Opinions?
I put a new starter in it and haven't had a problem since and the old starter bench tested good too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
This should be an easy one. How many miles on the vehicle/starter? If it has over 80k miles, most likely the brushes are shot. Could be a bad solenoid, but I doubt it. You can get a rebuilt or a new starter. On 1960's and 70's starters, replacing brushes is an easy rebuild. Even did this on my son's 88 Firebird. Brushes are cheap. Not much to it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,993
Likes: 9
From: Gig Harbor WA
This should be an easy one. How many miles on the vehicle/starter? If it has over 80k miles, most likely the brushes are shot. Could be a bad solenoid, but I doubt it. You can get a rebuilt or a new starter. On 1960's and 70's starters, replacing brushes is an easy rebuild. Even did this on my son's 88 Firebird. Brushes are cheap. Not much to it.
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 38
From: Space Coast Gator Territory
If the hammer wack got results where the starter did not turn on start, it needs to be replaced. I kept a truck running a couple days that way until I got a chance to replace the starter. It is a gamble, so don't depend on it; I just got lucky. Always check wire terminals while you are replacing components.