Yesterday when I went to start my car a funny thing happened. I put the key in the ignition and turned it to on like I always do for a second or two, then went to turn it over and nothing. The dash lit up, radio came on, dummy lights, fuel pump but the starter wouldnt engage. I hit it about three or four more times the it started like she always does. Drove it to work and home no problem. This morning same thing. After four times it started and drove just fine. Went and took some pics, shut the car off and started just fine. On the way home noticed my volt gauge was reading about 13 when I think it usually reads closer to 16 or 17. What gives, is my starter starting to go bad, or my alternator or both. What does everyone think? I was going to drive the car to Miami this weekend, but am a little scared to now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

ttt

 

First clean on chip on your key. This seems to work most of the time.

Does the car make a clicking noise when you try to crank?

 

17 Volts!! :eek:
that's a little HIGH
sounds like your voltage regular is going on you.

 

17 volts is way too high! :eek: Voltmeter should read close to 14.3 volts, mine reads about 13.6 most of the time. First remove both battery cables and clean them and the batt posts and reconnect. If you hear the start solenoid click , but the starter won't crank and dash lights don't dim, then you have dirty start solenoid contacts. If you hear a click from behind the center of the dash, then your start enable relay coil is working (contacts may not be working though). If you hear no clicking of any kind, then you may have VATS problem. Try your spare ign key. If no start, then find the wire from the steering column (on my 87) at the base of the column under the carpet. Unplug the 2 pin connector and measure the resistance on the wires out of the column with the key in place. The resistance should be the same as the pellet on your key. If ok, then check the clutch switch ( if auto, check the xmsn selector switch). If not ok, then you need a new ign sw which has contacts for the pellet . You can drive your car until someone can replace the ign sw by clipping the same value resistance as your pellet across the wires going to the passenger side (the VATS module) with the 2 pin plug unplugged.
Don't permanently bypass your VATS because your car can be easily stolen by thieves who break the column and jump the ignition.

 

Im not sure if my volt gauge always read 17, but will check all the other stuff this weekend. Thanks for the response from everyone.:)

 

This could be one of several problems. First check your battery voltage with a multimeter and the engine off. It should read 13+ volts. Then try turning the key to start and read what the voltage drops to. I would guess a good battery would drop to only 11.5 at the most. If the voltage doesn't change (no juice to starter) I would suspect the VATS or bad ignition switch. If you have a spare key, see if that works better.

 

Used my spare key and it started right up. My volts are reading 14.4. Everything good for now. Thanks everyone.:)
JP