ImBatman

1990 base coupe

I have checked the battery and alternator and both are working.

All lights and accessories work. No dimming.

Turn the switch a nd nothing happens

Jump box wil get it to crank.

This only seems to happen after it rains a good bit. Is there something getting moisture in it? What gets me is it will jump and sometimes after things outside dry up a bit it will crank. There apears to be no consistency.

Ideas???

Thanks!
Wade

aklim

How did you check them out?

Doesn't tell me anything other than the battery will supply enough power to keep them running. Cranking requires a lot more than to run a light bulb. You can run with a 5 pound weight on your legs. You might not do as well with a 50 pound weight.

Does the thing pressure up fuel in run mode? Can you check if it gets a signal at the starter?

I had something like that. After a few days, it won't turn over or is weak. Jumping will work. All indications of a bad battery. Thing is, it was a bad starter. If you get a signal at the starter, we can eliminate other stuff.

Connections are best like a girl. Tight even when wet.

ImBatman

LMBO on that last comment!

I can hear the fuel pump when i turn tge switch on. As for the battery i put it on my charger and within a few minuts it checked good. What is the best way to check signal to starter?

Thanks!
Wade

aklim

Screw a wire on to the starter solenoid. It lights up,you have signal.

A Peter C4

Are you saying that it will not crank over or that it cranks over but will not start?

ImBatman

It doesn't do anything. No turnover at all. It cranked right up yesterday and this morning.

It has not rained in a couple days but I have no idea if that is relevant info.

Thanks
Wade

aklim

Have to keep the test light on for when you have issues so you can see. Also you can bring it to a shop to do a crank amp test. Or take the starter to a rebuild shop and have it disassembled and tested. Not Autozone. A rebuild shop.

A Peter C4

Sounds like a bad battery connection or bad ground. Do lights work when it dosn't crank and start?

ImBatman

Yes all lights and accessories work.

xflagz51

I had just logged on to the forum to research this. I too have a 1990 base, 6-speed where the starter will not crank, but everything else electrical on the car works. I started it up one morning to go to work, stopped into a gas station on the way to fuel up, went to start it back up and continue on to work and the starter would not go. Batter and alternator are new, voltages are good and strong. I took the original starter to Autozone and it ran just fine in the test machine. Full voltage on the hot lug (large) of the solenoid, but nothing on the negative lug (small) of the solenoid even with the ignition all (steering column) all the way in the start position. It has not started since and it's been about a week and a half. Was perfectly dry conditions when this all happened, neutral safety switch? I've got through the FSM to see whet else could be causing the problem, just wondering if any of you had run into the same issue.

A Peter C4

Could be new starter time . Lifetime warranty new Remy #99635 starter at Rock Auto no core charge.

WVZR-1

This for "xflagz51" yes! jumper the clutch safety is generally the first test and switch failure is certainly frequent. Start Enable Relay next.

You mention the FSM so you should have no issues with your diagnostics.

OP - if you've the FSM there's "NO CRANK" diagnostics - Start Enable Relay maybe and best of recollection there's SER wiring modifications done frequently for '90 MY. Lots to confirm for you. '90 is a 'denso and I doubt a starter replacement required if it's the OE, contacts and plunger maybe. If it's already an "off the shelf reman" I'd do a local shop for diagnostics after all else checks good.

xflagz51

Thanks guys, I'll give those a try an see what happens. I did a reset of a trip odo out of sequence to what normally do, and wondered if it's some kind of security fault. I'll work through the FSM diagnostics as well.