Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Riverside CA
Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause
My 86 4+3 has a starter that sometimes wants to take a short vacation.
Every once in a while I will try to start and I will get a short 1/2 second burst out of the starter and then it will stop, sounding almost like a dead bettery. I turn the key OFF and try again and it starts. One time it just did nothing for several sttempts. All I could hear was a small relay like noise from under the hood. Waited one minute and tried again, and its back to normal. I just can't seem to get it to do it when I want so I can troubleshoot.
Battery Condition: Battery, about 10 months old, usually shows about 11.5 v with only key on, goes to 13.4 when running.
I cleaned the battery terminals but found no change. This is more apt to happen when the car is hot than when cold. Any Ideas would be appreciated. I don't want to have to just start throwing parts at this problem but someday it may leave me stranded. Help is appreciated. :confused:
Every once in a while I will try to start and I will get a short 1/2 second burst out of the starter and then it will stop, sounding almost like a dead bettery. I turn the key OFF and try again and it starts. One time it just did nothing for several sttempts. All I could hear was a small relay like noise from under the hood. Waited one minute and tried again, and its back to normal. I just can't seem to get it to do it when I want so I can troubleshoot.
Battery Condition: Battery, about 10 months old, usually shows about 11.5 v with only key on, goes to 13.4 when running.
I cleaned the battery terminals but found no change. This is more apt to happen when the car is hot than when cold. Any Ideas would be appreciated. I don't want to have to just start throwing parts at this problem but someday it may leave me stranded. Help is appreciated. :confused:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause (myblack864+3)
Your starter/solenoid may be failing, or your connections may need adjustment. I would pull the starter (not a big job) and have it tested under load before it leaves you stranded.
Also, your voltage, if accurate, is on the low side. Theoretically, each cell of a fully charged 12 volt battery should read 2.2 volts. Accordingly, a fully charged 12 volt battery, with no current draw, would read 13.2 volts. Since our batts are seldom at peak charge without an amp draw, we usually see a reading of 11+ volts static, and 14+ volts dynamic. You might have your alternator checked, also. If your gages are accurate, you should see a reading of 14+ volts while driving.
Also, your voltage, if accurate, is on the low side. Theoretically, each cell of a fully charged 12 volt battery should read 2.2 volts. Accordingly, a fully charged 12 volt battery, with no current draw, would read 13.2 volts. Since our batts are seldom at peak charge without an amp draw, we usually see a reading of 11+ volts static, and 14+ volts dynamic. You might have your alternator checked, also. If your gages are accurate, you should see a reading of 14+ volts while driving.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause (myblack864+3)
My 79 did the same thing...turned out to be a bad ignition switch.
I also replaced the neutral start switch, battery, battery wires and about 4 starters in an uninformed process of elimination. :crazy:
I also replaced the neutral start switch, battery, battery wires and about 4 starters in an uninformed process of elimination. :crazy:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 2
From: BowlingGreen KY
Re: Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause (BBA)
The copper contacts in the starter solenoid are bad. You can open the solenoid and make some more contacts if you have access to some copper peices. I fixed mine for $10. I would say I am 99% sure thats what your problem is. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause (myblack864+3)
Measure the battery terminal volts during cranking or when it won't crank, it must not fall below 9.0 volts or you have a poor battery cable connection, discharged battery, or a battery at the end of its life. Because its so easy to do, I would first remove the cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and reconnect (neg last). If it persists, measure the volts on the jumped clutch safety switch, this will tell you if the start solenoid is getting 12v from the ign sw contacts through the VATS relay contacts and will bypass the clutch sw which could cause the same thing. Parts places that test the starter don't put a mechanical load on the starter and the test is not conclusive but it will find some starter faults.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Intermittent "No-Starter", Can't Find Cause (jfb)
:iagree:
I had that problem with my daily driver. The battery could be fully charged, yet seem completely dead one start later. Turned out the ground cable was corroded badly. Check the easy stuff first. Of course, your battery is probably taking a beating if there's a bad ground or short, and it won't be long until you have two problems, one being a dying battery. I completely killed a Diehard Silver within 2 months of purchase because of a shorting alternator.
I had that problem with my daily driver. The battery could be fully charged, yet seem completely dead one start later. Turned out the ground cable was corroded badly. Check the easy stuff first. Of course, your battery is probably taking a beating if there's a bad ground or short, and it won't be long until you have two problems, one being a dying battery. I completely killed a Diehard Silver within 2 months of purchase because of a shorting alternator.
