Starter Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 830
Likes: 6
Starter Problem
Car is a 1990 L98 with the ZF 6sp. I have less than one year old starter that has given me problems when that car has been run hard or the ambient temp is very high. It occurred today for only the second time in a non-race condition. Usually this happens between runs on gird if I shut down. Turn the key nothing happens. If I push start the car it will fire and the starter usually works after that.
Any ideas? Is it the starter itself or do others have this happen. Today is a 100 degree day.
Any ideas? Is it the starter itself or do others have this happen. Today is a 100 degree day.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If you can hear the starter solenoid click but the starter motor doesn't crank, then you likely have bad switch contacts in the starter. There is a large copper contact that is forced against another contact at the end of the starter solenoid stroke which switches 12v to the starter motor. This contact gets blackened and pitted and eventually doesn't make a good enough connection to supply the 100+ amps the starter motor requires. If you do hear the solenoid click, you can keep hitting crank and the starter may eventually crank when the solenoid breaks through the pitting on the contacts. You can replace the contacts in the starter. If you use the search function, some posters have given the part numbers for the replacement parts.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 830
Likes: 6
If you can hear the starter solenoid click but the starter motor doesn't crank, then you likely have bad switch contacts in the starter. There is a large copper contact that is forced against another contact at the end of the starter solenoid stroke which switches 12v to the starter motor. This contact gets blackened and pitted and eventually doesn't make a good enough connection to supply the 100+ amps the starter motor requires. If you do hear the solenoid click, you can keep hitting crank and the starter may eventually crank when the solenoid breaks through the pitting on the contacts. You can replace the contacts in the starter. If you use the search function, some posters have given the part numbers for the replacement parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Heat soak is a common starter problem but the Denso units used in the late C4's don't seem to suffer as much as other types; partly on account of being a mini starter and mounted further away from the headers
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Heat soaked or not, the starter solenoid should click. You don't have a VATS problem because you can push start the car. I would check the clutch safety switch, unplug it and bypass it with a large wire. Measure the voltage on the jumper in crank position, it should have 12v on it. You can jump 12v to the jumper and the starter should crank. If no 12v, you may have a defective start enable relay, measure the voltage on each side of the relay contacts. If no 12v on either, back up to the ignition sw and see if you have 12v out of the starter wire from the ign sw.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,299
Likes: 2,219
From: Central Maryland
The fact that this is a heat-related fault points to high resistance in the low-voltage start circuit. Check and clean all of the contacts that you can get access to (ring terminals at the starter, etc), and also freshen up the connections at the battery and the ground straps to the chassis and engine block. If the problem persists, try a new solenoid. Or try a new solenoid first. (I'd do both, much as I hate having a car that won't crank when I want it to).
Live well,
SJW
Live well,
SJW
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 1
I had similar starter issues...
I bought a new starter put it in it worked for a while and started to fail.
I then bought a beefier starter (more expensive), new solenoid, cleaned all contacts cable with electrowash and a small wire brush and changed the alternator. the starter has worked ever since. I think the real difference was I did all the work myself the second time and made sure that starter was in there good and tight. It didn't come out or go in easy. Hope this helps.
I then bought a beefier starter (more expensive), new solenoid, cleaned all contacts cable with electrowash and a small wire brush and changed the alternator. the starter has worked ever since. I think the real difference was I did all the work myself the second time and made sure that starter was in there good and tight. It didn't come out or go in easy. Hope this helps.
