starter problems
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 368
starter problems
I just replaced the starter with a ProMax 9200 . My problem is I hear the starter engage and sometimes it works and more times it don't . I just replaced the battery and the negative battery cable, everything is clean and tight all that's left is positive cable. Any ideas where the problem is
Last edited by socal_tom; Mar 1, 2026 at 10:38 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,234
Likes: 7,827
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Some thoughts. Did you shim it? Did you check the gear engagement to see if it needs to be shimmed?
you hear it engage. What do you hear? Do you hear the bendix kicking ? Do you hear the motor turning? Or trying to turn? Do you get that "Click, click, click" noise of a low battery?
Have you bench tested the starter? Could it be the disc in the solenoid is not hitting both contacts and not sending power to the motor?
you hear it engage. What do you hear? Do you hear the bendix kicking ? Do you hear the motor turning? Or trying to turn? Do you get that "Click, click, click" noise of a low battery?
Have you bench tested the starter? Could it be the disc in the solenoid is not hitting both contacts and not sending power to the motor?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,234
Likes: 7,827
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Do you know how to do a Voltage drop test to determine if your positive battery cable is good or bad?
Perhaps Google Voltage drop test.
Bottom Line. I can't hear it. And I am to far away to come over.
Perhaps Google Voltage drop test.
Bottom Line. I can't hear it. And I am to far away to come over.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 52
From: wilmington Ma
I have a similar problem the dreaded "click" I haven't gotten back to checking it out yet , I will be curious to see what your doing for repair. Mine starts every time but might just click the first one or two turns. I have replaced starter , cleaned all cable connections and battery. Not sure about yours but my power in car does not dim when it clicks.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 597
I have a similar problem the dreaded "click" I haven't gotten back to checking it out yet , I will be curious to see what your doing for repair. Mine starts every time but might just click the first one or two turns. I have replaced starter , cleaned all cable connections and battery. Not sure about yours but my power in car does not dim when it clicks.
Top quality cables are a relative bargain. But R&R that Looong + Positive cable is quite a chore.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 80
Likes: 21
From: Michigan
This may be a little late...I thought I had read all of the threads.
A quick test would be to turn on your headlights, then crank your engine. If the headlights significantly dim or go out (you may need to have some one to watch the headlights if they are not rotated up), you have a power drop. That can be a bad a bad battery cable (power or ground), loose contacts. bad ground (battery ground or engine ground), ;ow battery charge, internal battery issue (a cracked lead bridge), high current draw (bad starter or starter too close to flywheel).
A quick test would be to turn on your headlights, then crank your engine. If the headlights significantly dim or go out (you may need to have some one to watch the headlights if they are not rotated up), you have a power drop. That can be a bad a bad battery cable (power or ground), loose contacts. bad ground (battery ground or engine ground), ;ow battery charge, internal battery issue (a cracked lead bridge), high current draw (bad starter or starter too close to flywheel).
