What the hell is going on!!!!!!

[British Bob]

Hi Guys,

My 1986 C4 is doing my head in. For along time now it has started badley, A guy told me some time ago that my starter motor was on its way out. It finaly died last week and left me stranded with some clients eventualy push starting me to get me home.

A new starter motor was fitted two days ago and to make extra shure I fitted a new kick ass battery and some new connection leads.

So with all this ..............Why the %&%£ does it still hesitate to start!!!!!! Some times doesnt start at all. (but will push start) what the hell is going on!!!!!

Please help me , I am about to smash the thing up.

Thanks in advance British bob

 

[smook]

Step back. Some patience is the best.

Get a good mechanic on this. Might be a short in the electrical wiring.

Stay with it.

GOOD LUCK.
-Bill.

 

[74bigblock]

Was there a change in the starting at all after replacement of parts?

I am not a C4 expert by any means, but if you can push start the car easily... then there is something wrong with the wiring either at the ignition (not giving the starter a signal to engage) or the starter is not responding to said igniton signal.

You should double check all the grounds for the starter and ignition for starters.

I'm sure more people will respond later in the day here in the states... it's mid afternoon here, and most folks are still at work.

-Dave

 

[British Bob]

Thanks mate,

It turns over faster when it does turn over. It started fine this morning with a freshly charged battery. I drove in to town, popped in to a shop and when I tried to start it it acted like there was hardly anything in the battery. A guy push started me. Got home and it has started hesitantly ever since. My problem is that I use this car for work and it just isnt reliable at the moment.

Dont know what to do.

British bob.

 

[JimVette]

It could be a loose ground or a bad starter. Late '80's models are infamous for eating starters. The replacements you buy now usually come with a heat shield. If you have headers that makes matters worse. My ex's '87 would eat one up about once a year. I got to where I could change starters and alternators faster than you could down a pint.

 

[Blue92]

I had a similar and frustrating experience after replacing the battery and starter. In the console there is a neutral saftey switch. From that switch is a purple wire that goes straight to the starter. On my car the wire was routed through the console right past a bolt head. Over time the wire rubbed on the bolt head and would short out sometimes. Like yours it would start fine when the car was cold in the morning but after running for while and it got hot you would try and start and no dice. Repaired the wire put some protective loom over it and things have been fine.

 

[British Bob]

Thanks mate.

I am a complete novice at this, this is gona sound realy thick but what and where is the console?

British bob

 

[Ken]

Look through our Tech Center to see if any of the bulletins sound like what you're experiencing. For example, there's a 1986-1987: Service Bulletin: Intermittent No-Start Condition Caused by Vehicle Anti-Theft System

Look through them and you might find a more specific notice that applies in your case.

 

[British Bob]

Do you mean the dash? sorry

British bob

 

[British Bob]

Didnt know there was a switch on the cluch pedal? U see this is the problem, very basic knowledge of where things are but can fix if told where to look or check.

Thanks

British bob

 

[DRTH VTR]

Have you checked the alternator? You said it started fine when the battery was fresh, then it acted like there was nothing in the battery. Could be the charging system.

 

[74bigblock]

The Console is the "Center Console"... the big hump between you and the passenger that has the gear shift poking out of it.

 

[British Bob]

The alternator is pushing out a very healthy charge according to my meter. was only replaced recently.

Thanks

British bob

 

[British Bob]

Right, you see, i would call that the dash board, sorry, ok what parts do i need to remove to get to this purple wire?

British bob

 

[Ken]

The clutch safety switch will prevent the engine from turning altogether; it's designed to prevent accidental starts, and has nothing to do with the VATS system, which is most likely the cause here.

 

[British Bob]

hi, just checked out that thread. this used to happen to me all the time, would wait and the car would start. the thing is , now that all the work has been done havnt experienced it , or havnt been aware of it cause people have been pushing my car which has resulted in it starting which surely wouldnt happen if the system was shut down?

Cheers

British bob

 

[Blue92]

Is your car a manual shift or an automatic?

 

[British Bob]

Hi,

Is a manual with a 4 + 3 gear shift.

BB

 

[jmccloud]

Slow to start

The most frequently overlooked poor starter connection is the negative connector at the frame or engine block or between them. Make sure there is a solid, clean connection at THE OTHER END (from the battery) of the negative battery cable.

 

[British Bob]

Thanks.

The battery and the cable are new. I did have to make a join as the new battery is differnt to the ac delco side terminals, however the join is good, clean and solid. Where does the cable join to the engine?

bb