Need Immediate Electrical Help
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Flushing MI
Originally Posted by GUSTO14
At this point it seems you have either a bad battery or bad electrical connection between the battery and the starter.
Testing a starter on a bench is different than testing it under load, but since you seem to feel it's good, I would jump to the cables. You really need to examine all connections, including the ground cable that connects the engine to the frame (in the vicinity of the right motor mount). After you've checked and verified all connections are good, look the cables themselves over. My ground cable from the frame to motor had good ends, but the cable itself was almost corroded in half mid way between the ends. I only realized this after removing it and seeing how easily it bent in the middle.
GUSTO
Testing a starter on a bench is different than testing it under load, but since you seem to feel it's good, I would jump to the cables. You really need to examine all connections, including the ground cable that connects the engine to the frame (in the vicinity of the right motor mount). After you've checked and verified all connections are good, look the cables themselves over. My ground cable from the frame to motor had good ends, but the cable itself was almost corroded in half mid way between the ends. I only realized this after removing it and seeing how easily it bent in the middle.
GUSTO
Bench testing a starter will catch most but not all problems. I would take a volt meter and connect it to the starter and to a good ground. Start with the main starter power connection and then to the solenoid. If you do not get 13.8 volts when cranking, I would work my way back to the battery. The point it goes from low voltage (less than 12 volts) to high voltage (13.8) that is were the problem is. If the voltage drops at the battery post then most likely it is the battery. If you get 13.8 at the starter then I would believe your starter has internal problems and will need to be replaced.Hope that helps and good luck
Last edited by ckerch; Jun 30, 2005 at 07:56 AM.
