Engine won't start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Engine won't start
Nothing at all. A few weeks ago I was out for quite a drive. I stopped for groceries and then it wouldn't start. It turned over a bit then popped a puff of smoke from under the hood then nothing. No clicking. Nothing. Then all of a sudden it did start. No explanation. It's been running fine until today.
Today I swapped a new carb in. It started fine 2 days ago but today nothing again. No clicking from the starter. The battery is fine. It's almost as if it thinks I haven't pressed the clutch in.
Does anybody have any ideas?
Today I swapped a new carb in. It started fine 2 days ago but today nothing again. No clicking from the starter. The battery is fine. It's almost as if it thinks I haven't pressed the clutch in.
Does anybody have any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Go thru the battery and starter cables, make sure both ends of each one is good. Then check the connections on the starter. Put a test light on the S terminal on the starter (purple wire) it should light up full bright everytime you hit the key. If it only lights dim, or not at all you have a starter circuit problem. If it does light up bright and starter doen not engauge there is a problem with the starter
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Using the technique I use for debugging computer code worked. Start at the end and work your way back. Step one solved the problem. I took a hammer to the starter and tried turning it over and it did. Guess it's time to replace the starter.
There's a whole lot of useful information to be found on this site once you get your search words sorted out. And one of the fastest search engines I've ever seen.
Thanks for all the help guys.
btw... I think the puff of smoke was an issue with the choke. Can't wait to try out the new carb!
There's a whole lot of useful information to be found on this site once you get your search words sorted out. And one of the fastest search engines I've ever seen.
Thanks for all the help guys.
btw... I think the puff of smoke was an issue with the choke. Can't wait to try out the new carb!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
You might consider a newer (&better) design starter. Permanent magnet starters require less power, are lighter, have No field coils at all & quite resistant to heat-soak no-start. AFAIK, all new passenger vehicles have them. However, their cast magnets do not like sharp hammer strike. Dunno which you have ... but majority C3 take a starter for 168T fly/flex. Take a look at GM starter p/n 12606096 ... or local parts house get a starter for a 99 silverado pickup with automatic 5.7 liter. I am NOT referring to clockable race-type "mini" starters.
