I went outside to get in the car yesterday turned the key and got nothing but a audible click from the starter engaging but it didnt turn over. I tried again a second time and got the same results.I started to look and see if I left anything on that would drain the battery, nothing. I tried a third time and it cranked like a champ. I went to my parents shut it off and tried again started right up, I thought battery a little low but its now charged. Later that night I got in it to leave about 8 hrs later and it did the same thing nothing on the first and second but cranked right up on the third. Drove it back home with no problems. The third time I got in it the starter engaged but it never cranked it was slow dragging like a low battery. Again on the third time it cranked right up. I replaced the 1 yr old battery with an Optima got everything done and nothing no click no nothing. I messed with the connections and still nothing so I started to remove the battery again and it started turning over on its own with the keys out of the ignition. Pulled the negative off real quick and installed the old battery and nothing. I pulled the 2 60 amp fuses in the box next to the battery in the engine compartment and found white corrosion on them. Cleaned them up and reinstalled and it cranked right up with no problems and it cranked fine this morning as well. I have driven it twice today and no problems at all. Could the corrosion have caused this? Could I have a bad solenoid on the starter?(I have longtubes, maybe heat) or could I have some other seriously jacked up electrical problem? If anyone has seen anything like this or heard of it please let me know. I dont think its vats since it was turning over without the key even in the ignition.(it was in the seat) :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

 

Your unreliable cranking was most likely due to 2 things. First you have a worn pitted contact on the starter solenoid and you have a poor battery connection. The starter solenoid stuck together but the starter wouldn't crank due to poor battery connection and poor solenoid connection (while stuck). When you started to remove the Optima you made a low resistance connection and the stuck solenoid allowed the starter to crank. Your other battery could have been at the end of its life and it couldn't supply cranking current after the solenoid made connection and held the solenoid closed and it stuck. Battery cable lugs and battery terminals need to be bright and corrosion free and the bolts tight.

 

I have had a similar start problem on my '94. Once my starter was replaced , it never happened again. I did not look for the corrosion you mentioned. However, after a long period of time, I noticed that I had oil covering my replaced starter which was caused by an oil leak from the manifold area . ( the infamous LT1 leak). This may have caused the starter to fail ? However, I believe that your problem lies in the starter. I thought that it was the ignition switch at first because when I wiggled the key after several attempts, the engine would turn over. However, when diagnosed by the shop, it was determined that it was a failing starter. After the replacement, the igniition switch never did that again. I thought is was due to cold temps, as the problem was greater during initial start attempts first thing in the morning. As with many electrical devices that have electrical brushes, I believe that the brushes had become worn and stick on initial contact. This also happens on window motors in the C4's.


[Modified by jiml94, 7:41 AM 7/7/2003]

 

i think jfb nailed it on the head. Replace the solenoid and clean all connections. :cheers:

 

I've got the same problem. I've found that the positive battery cable has a lot of corrosion under the insulation. Could this be the problem or is it definitely the starter?

 

If the starter is now working with the new battery, I would clean the battery connections and drive it. Remember, I've said this before, you want your battery connections to be like your lover, bright and tight. :D

 

did it draw amps when you turned the key, digidash dimming, interior dimming???

 

I pulled the Optima back out and put the original battery back in. I cleaned the terminals and tightened everything back up and drove it all day today and yesterday without any problems so far. Now to fix the other problem with the deadspot in the throttle. Thanks for all the input