Intermittent Starter problem
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
Intermittent Starter problem
Spoiler
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
You definitely have some wiring problems. When your ignition is turned to START, the ammeter should not be showing any reading (still at 0 amps). The current 'signal' will reach the meter, but it should not have power to operate. There are some 'creative wiring' things going on with your vehicle.
As to it not starting-- If the starting circuit is really drawing significant current but the starter motor is not turning, it is possible that the armature brushes in the starter are completely worn out. If you have the original starter in the car and it has never been rebuilt, that is certainly a possibility.
You could have a faulty starter solenoid or an out-of-adjustment Neutral Start Switch. Either would prevent the starter from receiving current from the battery. But, neither of these faults would draw enough current to move an ammeter all the way to full discharge position.
P.S. If you really have a Voltmeter (instead of an Amp meter), it would still seem that you were drawing significant current when you try to start the engine. So, I think my focus would still be on the starter, itself.
As to it not starting-- If the starting circuit is really drawing significant current but the starter motor is not turning, it is possible that the armature brushes in the starter are completely worn out. If you have the original starter in the car and it has never been rebuilt, that is certainly a possibility.
You could have a faulty starter solenoid or an out-of-adjustment Neutral Start Switch. Either would prevent the starter from receiving current from the battery. But, neither of these faults would draw enough current to move an ammeter all the way to full discharge position.
P.S. If you really have a Voltmeter (instead of an Amp meter), it would still seem that you were drawing significant current when you try to start the engine. So, I think my focus would still be on the starter, itself.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Feb 24, 2020 at 12:49 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 396
Likes: 101
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
Three Checks.
1. Do you hear the solenoid click? If yes, the clutch switch/ignition is likely good.
2. Does the solenoid click once or multiple times? If once, it is likely the starter brushes or the solenoid. Most likely the solenoid since when you retighten the battery cable at the starter you are disturbing the lug the cable is attached to, That lug is actually the contact in the solenoid and is prone to wearing away. .
3. If the solenoid clicks multiple times rapidly, it is going to be a bad battery, high resistance in the cables or a bad/ shorted starter.
1. Do you hear the solenoid click? If yes, the clutch switch/ignition is likely good.
2. Does the solenoid click once or multiple times? If once, it is likely the starter brushes or the solenoid. Most likely the solenoid since when you retighten the battery cable at the starter you are disturbing the lug the cable is attached to, That lug is actually the contact in the solenoid and is prone to wearing away. .
3. If the solenoid clicks multiple times rapidly, it is going to be a bad battery, high resistance in the cables or a bad/ shorted starter.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 396
Likes: 101
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
If that click is the solenoid, it is not the clutch switch. Easy check. Hold the key in the start position and operate the clutch several times. If the solenoid clicks on the way down releases on the way up (two slightly different sounding clicks) the clutch interlock is working.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 103
From: Centerville Louisiana
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