Starting Problems

IROC · IROC's Garage

OK, I am driving home this afternoon and I see a car up ahead in the median on fire (engine fire). Since I have a fire extinguisher, I did the good samaritan thing and stop and put the fire out. I go get back in the 911 and turn the key and rrr......rrr....rrr....rrrrrrr.....and then nothing. Won't start. Acts as if the battery is dead, but the battery is only about 2 years old (plus, I had just been driving the car about 2 minutes earlier).

So, I call the wife and she comes in the rescue 4Runner and we try and jump it. Nothing. Starter turns, but very slowly. No different than before. Battery seems fine.

The fire department had showed up at this point, so they push me and the thing starts just fine. I drive home and pull it in the garage, turn it off and try and re-start it and it spins like normal and starts just fine.

What's up? It seems to me that it must be one of two things - too much resistance in either the positive or negative battery cables or something amiss in the starter.

Any ideas?

Mike

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

Just a quess, but it sounds like corosion or a short in the system.
Intermitant problems are the hardest to solve.

RoninLB · 04-10-2005, 05:20 PM

I'd start with confirming good battery and starter connections even if they look clean. Then a quick amp draw test on the big hot. If drawing over 200amps get a new starter. Sometimes the inner solenoid main current connector contacts gets dirty. The contacts are somewhat self-cleaning but sometimes they load up. For this possibility I disconnect the big hot at the starter and slam the solenoid contacts about a dozen times by using the key to "start" position or jumping it down under. Naturally the tranny to tub ground strap connection is a famous weak spot..

IROC · IROC's Garage

Things to check for sure. When I swapped this engine in a couple of years ago, I installed new ground straps, so that shouldn't be the problem. I'll check the contacts for sure.

Thanks...

Mike

IROC · IROC's Garage

One additional question...could this merely be the signs of an old starter on it way out? This is the car's original starter so it's pushing 30 years old...

Mike

RoninLB · 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IROC

This is the car's original starter so it's pushing 30 years old...

if it was my car I'd get one of Waynes high torque starters. It's not a Tilben. I have a Tilben now and it's what I'm going to get next. Then I'd jerk around with the current one and have a spare.

backing up the starter ground with a cable or strap attached to the lower starter bolt and the foreward tranny mount lug isn't a bad idea either. If you do this get under there with a closeline piece to lay out the install cable length while figuring tie wraps, etc.. cheap entertainment for sure.

IROC · IROC's Garage

Yeah, I did a search on starting problems and found that most people seem to have a problem with the starter not cranking (solenoid issues). Mine cranks...just very slowly. The grounds are in good shape and the connections at the battery/starter are in good shape, so I'm wondering if my 10.3:1 compression engine is simply kicking the 29 year-old starter's butt.

I have noticed that ever since I installed this engine, it hasn't spun nearly as fast as the old 2.7 did.

I already checked out the high-torque starters this morning... :>)

Thanks,

Mike

Paulporsche · 08:17 AM

The high torque starter has no problem w/ the higher compression engine.

For the start issue, check out Superman's current thread on "Ignition Troubles".