Starting Problem

[lwarren]

I am experiencing a similar problem to Spinman (post from yesterday). When I try to start my 88 it will click one time every time I turn the key to the on position. If I do it enough it will eventually turn over. Just wondering if any of the suggestions for him will work for me...Contacts on the shifter, Battery Ground, Positive Block connections etc. If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

 

[tigmaned]

i think we need more info? do you have a good battery charge? check grounds?

 

[lwarren]

i think we need more info? do you have a good battery charge? check grounds?

Yes on having a good charge. The battery is fairly new, and like I said eventually it will start, and this doesn't happen every time. sometimes it will start right off the 1st time.

 

[jimmers]

could be a bad ground, the VATS or the ignition.

 

[geekinavette]

Could be the starter solenoid hanging up. Not uncommon.

Bill

 

[jimmers]

Could be the starter solenoid hanging up. Not uncommon.

Bill

i knew there was somthing i was forgetting!

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah, just jump across it and see if it will start then. If so then it is bad.

 

[Edmond]

Could be the starter solenoid hanging up. Not uncommon.

Bill

Where is the start solenoid at and what does it look like?

 

[Vettefan87]

It sits right on top of the starter. It is smaller and cylinder looking.

 

[Edmond]

That's what I thought it was but I wasn't sure so I wasn't going to put my foot in my mouth.:L How would one go about testing the solenoid?

 

[Vettefan87]

The way my fater did it when I watched was just take a screwdriver, and jump across the terminals on the solenoid. Then if it starts you know that is bad.

 

[Edmond]

The way my fater did it when I watched was just take a screwdriver, and jump across the terminals on the solenoid. Then if it starts you know that is bad.

I'm not going to try that!:L:L:L I had a bad experience as a child with electrical things and even today, I don't like working on electrical things.

I was helping my neighbor change out his spark plugs. We changed them all and were testing something. I unplugged the wire from the plug and he started the car. I put it up to the engine block to see if there would be a spark. No spark. Then I put a small piece of wire in there and did the same thing. I got shocked pretty bad and just yelled out $#@! I think it changed my heart beat.:L

 

[Vettefan87]

I'm not going to try that!:L:L:L I had a bad experience as a child with electrical things and even today, I don't like working on electrical things.

I was helping my neighbor change out his spark plugs. We changed them all and were testing something. I unplugged the wire from the plug and he started the car. I put it up to the engine block to see if there would be a spark. No spark. Then I put a small piece of wire in there and did the same thing. I got shocked pretty bad and just yelled out $#@! I think it changed my heart beat.:L

It is only twelve volts across the starter, that will not hurt you. There are thousands of volts coming out of a plug wire. I won't get near one while the car is running.

 

[geekinavette]

Yes it is only 12V...but unlike a spark plug wire the 12V (battery) source has a buttload of available current. I wouldn't go probing around the starter solenoid with a screwdriver.


Here's how the starter solenoid works. This is from an '84, but most all starters work the same. (sorry for the large image file):

When you turn the key to "start", you send 12V to the purple wire. The current that flows through the "Windings" magnetically pulls the "Shifter" towards the windings, and pushes the "Drive Mechanism" (also known as a "bendix") into the flywheel. At the same time the "Shifter" mechanism makes the electrical connection between the main power feed to the starter and the starter motor itself. What can happen is if the "Motor Contacts" switch goes bad, you'll hear the "click" of the "Shifter" and "Drive Mechanism" engaging the flywheel, but the starter motor won't turn over. This is what usually fails in a starter solenoid.

This is all of course assuming that the circuitry between the ignition switch and the starter is ok...like the "Clutch Start Switch" and the "Starter Interrupt Relay" in that diagram. In this example you could very well be hearing the "click" of that relay, but the contacts are failing causing no power to the solenoid (purple wire). One thing you might be able to do is use something as a makeshift "stethescope" (or just buy one, they make flexible automotive stethescopes), put it directly on the solenoid and see if the "click" is indeed coming from the solenoid.

BTW the solenoid CAN be replaced without replacing the entire starter....but the cost difference isn't really all that significant as I recall.

You can also see from this what can happen if the solenoid gets "stuck" in the engaged position....the starter motor will spin with engine speed....and that's BAAAAD. Fairly rare, and not related to this problem....but a neat little tidbit if info.

Bill

 

[WhalePirot]

I have done a free fix a few times to solenoids. I opened it up, reversed the heavy lugs (if eroded), then flipped the contact disk over to the opposite (copper) side. The possiblility and success of opening a solenoid varies with the design. The newer, mini starters may not allow this.

Check the headlights for excessive dimming when trying to start. If so, your starter is sucking too much juice. If not, it is the switching circuit.

Chances are, given your 'normal' starts, it is the latter.

Also, even a new battery could be faulty, taking only a 'surface charge', as I found.....TWICE...thanks, Optima RedTop. I, twice, replaced starters, added a remore solenoid and had months of headaches, as I thought the (2) new 'wonderful' RedTops couldn't be the problem, could they? After a VAT test showed my rewiring, he starter and the charging circuit to be fine. A new Intgerstate battery has fixed my problem.