Well, all has gone smoothly for too long. For the past week or so, my car has had a hard time starting, and today, she starts no more. I figured it was the battery (which was going anyway) so I went out and bought a new one. Put 'er in, and no go.. She doesnt want to turn over. I can hear the starter trying to turn, but it just wont turn the engine over. Think it is a starter motor problem?? Or could it be something else??

 

Measure the battery terminal volts when cranking. It should not fall below 9.0 volts or the battery is discharged, at the end of its life, or the cable connections are not clean and tight. If you have a good battery and clean and tight connections, then when attempting a crank, measure the voltage between the positive battery terminal and the large bolt on the starter. This will tell you if the crimped connections between the cable and the lug on each end has a low resistance. You should not see higher than 0.5 volts in this measurement or the cable is suspect. You can put a clip lead on the starter bolt and run the wire to your voltmeter so you aren't under the car during this test. Be careful not to touch the clip lead to ground because you will have large sparks and a red hot clip.
If your system passes this test, then repeat it measuring the voltage drop from the negative terminal to the case of the starter (scratch through the paint). You might have a poor connection from the neg cable to the frame or from the negative frame connection to the rear of the left head.

[Modified by jfb, 10:51 PM 4/12/2003]


[Modified by jfb, 10:57 PM 4/12/2003]


[Modified by jfb, 10:59 PM 4/12/2003]

 

Procure a hand held starter switch. It is a hand held device and will have a spring loaded button. Connect it between the large post on the starter solenoid (this will be the post that your + battery cable connects to). Next, connect the other end to the + post of your battery. Press down on the button of the hand held starter switch (you are by-passing the + cable between the battery and the starter and the ignition switch). If your starter turns over fine then you know that your starter motor is in good shape not to mention the battery. If it does not then suspect your starter or your battery. I suggest that when conducting this test that you eliminate as many variables as possible so insure 100% that your battery is fully charged and can handle an electrical load. If your starter turns fine using this test but does not when connected normally then suspect the starter solenoid or an ignition switch.
Hope this helps.

 

Is this what you really wanted to say? The large post on the starter solenoid that the + battery cable connects to, connected to the + post of the battery would do nothing when you pushed the button, assuming that cable was good. When connecting a remote start switch, you could connect it between the + battery terminal and the smaller S terminal post on the solenoid, or just connect the remote switch between the large post on the starter solenoid (B terminal) and the smaller post on the starter solenoid (S terminal).

 

LOL I think the old school mechanic trick for this was to just take a screwdriver and bridge the gap between the two posts if the starter turns over it is fine... much quicker than making a little switch tool.. Just my two cents.. I take no personal liablity for any damage caused by this but it has never caused any damage here.. done it more than a handfull of times over the years on different vehicles.

 

:iagree: That's right. We were doing this before electricity! :D

 

Any way to test the starter if it is actually out of the vehicle??

-Mark