1989 406
Well-known member
Does anyone on here use one and what is their set up?
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Sun, thanks a lot for the detailed response. Just when I think I have it somewhat heat related, I go out today and now the starter turns and the motor does not crank. I have recently put a new alternator, starter and battery. The car sits in my garage so heat was not a factor. Not too long ago I had a guy replace the clutch switch or so he says. I have to keep on going. The car also has a Viper alarm on it and I am not thinking that may play a part in it.Regarding the starting issue. If you have not fixed the problem yet, and it seems to be heat related you may want to read on.My 92 has given me grief with the no start problem off and on over the past 5 yrs. I replaced the battery, it was still under warranty from previous owner. All was fine for awhile. And that may have been that problem. Always cranks in cool weather. Again the no crank started again. I replaced the starter with a power master. Worked fine, for awhile. Thinking heat related problem, I put a blanket on it. Worked for awhile. Approximately 17 months go by. Battery dies. Our summer heat destroys batteries so I confirm dead cells and buy another battery. Starts great in cooler weather, but when it gets hot, it's hit or miss. I check voltage drop when cranking and a slew of other tests from the factory service manual to find the issue, everything checks ok. But the car is always cool when testing. Finally, it happened when the car had been moved out of the garage and left in the sun for a few hrs. That did it. This problem has my full attention. I hate to shotgun parts, but the first thing I did was to replace the pos battery cable. I then replaced 3 of the fusible links involved in the starting circuit. I cleaned the neg grounds, and for good measure I jumpered the clutch no start switch for troubleshooting. It's been a week now and the temps in phx are hitting 100 most days now. So far it has cranked every time. My next step is to reconnect the clutch sw. If my problem comes back. I'll change that too. I truly think a fusible link may have been heating up and giving high resistance, enough to cause a no crank. I mean nothing, no click at the solenoid at all. If this sounds like your problem, you may want to study the cranking circuit, or start throwing new wires at it, all told I paid about $65 for the wires.
Regarding the starting issue. If you have not fixed the problem yet, and it seems to be heat related you may want to read on.My 92 has given me grief with the no start problem off and on over the past 5 yrs. I replaced the battery, it was still under warranty from previous owner. All was fine for awhile. And that may have been that problem. Always cranks in cool weather. Again the no crank started again. I replaced the starter with a power master. Worked fine, for awhile. Thinking heat related problem, I put a blanket on it. Worked for awhile. Approximately 17 months go by. Battery dies. Our summer heat destroys batteries so I confirm dead cells and buy another battery. Starts great in cooler weather, but when it gets hot, it's hit or miss. I check voltage drop when cranking and a slew of other tests from the factory service manual to find the issue, everything checks ok. But the car is always cool when testing. Finally, it happened when the car had been moved out of the garage and left in the sun for a few hrs. That did it. This problem has my full attention. I hate to shotgun parts, but the first thing I did was to replace the pos battery cable. I then replaced 3 of the fusible links involved in the starting circuit. I cleaned the neg grounds, and for good measure I jumpered the clutch no start switch for troubleshooting. It's been a week now and the temps in phx are hitting 100 most days now. So far it has cranked every time. My next step is to reconnect the clutch sw. If my problem comes back. I'll change that too. I truly think a fusible link may have been heating up and giving high resistance, enough to cause a no crank. I mean nothing, no click at the solenoid at all. If this sounds like your problem, you may want to study the cranking circuit, or start throwing new wires at it, all told I paid about $65 for the wires.
I read all your posts and just now hear something different. You said "starter spins but will not crank."
all along, I assumed it was cranking -spinning the flywheel and turning the crankshaft- but not at a speed fast enough to fire.
these comments are two different things.
the question is, does the engine spin -with the solenoid moving the starter clutch gear into and engaged to the flyheel? Or, does the gear engage the flywheel teeth, then kick itself out, for some reason? the starter gear should remain engaged to the flywheel as long as the battery voltage is sufficient to activate the solenoid, or until the engine RPM over-runs the starter gear, and you release the key. if you relese the key from start position, the spring inside the solenoid pushes the gear away from the flywheel teeth, and the solenoid cuts the voltage to the starter..
if the starter gear is defective, slipping, the starter will spin but will not be engaged with the flywheel. you will aso hear the sound of the starter motor spinning free.
I think that, if the starter is trying to start at all, the clutch switch is not involved, nor an alarm system, VATS, whatever.
Have not worked on starter/solenoid issues for many years, but they still work the same.
saludos, joe
There is a definate lack of consistancy in the complaint...
what is it?
starter motor turns but engine does NOT? :confused
key turns but starter motor does nothing? :confused
key turns, starter motor turns, motor turns over ( CRANKS) but does not FIRE? (run on its own) ...? :confused
Accurate descriptions mean EVERYTHING when trying to get a diagnosis from a thousand miles away...
:soapbox
Cranking: engine rotating but not firing or trying to start and run.
Starting: the act of turning the key which should make the starter run turning the engine over until it fires.
Cranking on it: holding the key ON forcing the starter to continue to spin the engine even though the engine will not fire and run
Fire: engine igniting fuel and running on its own
Up until yesterday the only problem was that it was cranking for a very little bit and and was not starting. Not until last night did I experience for the first time something different which was the starter motor spinning fine, but now the engine will not crank.
The one problem all along has just become two since last night.
You may have inherited a second problem. Both problems may not be connected. For starters as mentioned the flywheel could be bad, misaligned, Or a bolt holding it in place may have backed out and now is jammed up against a casting web preventing the engine from turning over. So the questions about what specifically is happening now are critical to isolating what can cause your problems.
We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with this issue because we are sure that at some future date you will have the answer for someone Else's problem.
So hang in there I believe you are close to finding and correcting your problems
I appreciate everyone's input. I know it is very difficult to diag without the exact facts. The potential here now is a second problem. I am probably going to have to get a friend who is a great tech to look at it. I will keep you all updated because it is going too far over my head for what I can do.