89 won't start it just clicks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
89 won't start it just clicks
My 89 has stopped trying to start at all. The other day I tried to start it and it just cranked and cranked. So I got a fuel pump relay and replaced the relay on the diver's side firewall. I don't know if that worked or not. Now the darn thing just clicks and doesn't even try to turn over. I had the battery checked at Advance Auto and they said it is fine even under load, putting out over 800 CCAs. Any thoughts why it won't even try would be helpful.
Thanks
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
Always Check the Wiring First!
Same thing happened to me this weekend. Turns out the wiring to the solenoid was damaged preventing the starter motor from getting any juice to run. Check your wiring underneath the car first before removing the starter. (I didn't and was really embarrassed and surprised when the starter motor tested fine at my local Advance store 
)
There are several recent threads on this type of problem (starter, fuel pump relay, ignition system). If your starter checks out okay, I recommend doing a Search on this C4 forum because many of the responses covered all aspects of the topic(s) well including some FSM wiring diagrams in some cases.
Good Luck!
)There are several recent threads on this type of problem (starter, fuel pump relay, ignition system). If your starter checks out okay, I recommend doing a Search on this C4 forum because many of the responses covered all aspects of the topic(s) well including some FSM wiring diagrams in some cases.
Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Coincidence or not - I don’t know, but it did turn over initially.
Go back to square one. Put the original relay back in. Make sure all relays are properly seated and see if it cranks. Look to see where your hands were. Sounds like you might have induced the problem. If there is an additional time line let us know.
If it turned over that much initially, it probably would have made oil pressure hence closing the pressure switch for the constant voltage for the fuel pump and would have started if all was working. That’s assuming you have that relay in the 89.
If you get it cranking again, check for spark and fuel pressure first to get a direction of which way to go.
Go back to square one. Put the original relay back in. Make sure all relays are properly seated and see if it cranks. Look to see where your hands were. Sounds like you might have induced the problem. If there is an additional time line let us know.
If it turned over that much initially, it probably would have made oil pressure hence closing the pressure switch for the constant voltage for the fuel pump and would have started if all was working. That’s assuming you have that relay in the 89.
If you get it cranking again, check for spark and fuel pressure first to get a direction of which way to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Measure the battery voltage at the battery terminals during an attempted crank. Battery voltage should not fall below 9.0 volts during cranking or the battery is discharged (charge it up), battery cables are not making good connection (remove, clean, replace), or the battery is at the end of its life. Another problem can be inside the starter motor. The starter solenoid forces two large copper contacts together at the end of its stroke and they get pitted and blackened and eventually don't make a low enough resistance connection to pass the 100+ amps a starter motor requires. If you hear the starter solenoid click, keep hitting crank over and over and if it suddenly begins cranking, this is definitely the copper contacts. They are replaceable.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
I worked on it today. I cleaned the battery terminials well and it seemed to turn over once every three or four tries. Then I cleaned the terminals on the starter and now it seems to be cranking each try. Cheapest fix I ever had. Thanks for all the suggestions.
John
John
