87 3.2 will not crank, please help!

gerlando · 05-08-2009, 11:27 PM

Here's the low down. Car was running fine 2 days ago, tonight I got to fire her up and she doesn't crank at all. I can hear the fuel pump and I think I'm hearing the DME click twice. I tried 2 other DMEs and still no cranking, also tried jumping her since the battery was reading 12.1 (a bit low). Any suggestions on where to look next? Is there an easy way to test the starter? I looked in my Bentley manual and it looks pretty hard to access.

Thanks in advance.

gerlando · 05-09-2009, 12:35 AM

Ok, I've been reading a lot of threads here and it looks like I should test the ignition switch and the solenoid, and perhaps bang on the starter to see if it magically starts working. The bentley manual says to do all testing at the solenoid so I was wondering if there are any solenoid accessibility tips.

pozee · 04:32 AM

What is the output from your battery? Have you checked it?

Sorry - missed the part about the battery. You need to make sure you don't have a grounding issue before assuming it's the starter. Check all grounds. What shape are the battery terminal's in? Any sign of corrosion?

cdrik915 · cdrik915's Garage

PMH sensor to check perhaps......just a supposition and a common issue.

gerlando · 05-09-2009, 08:34 AM

Good idea, I'll check and clean the grounds.

cdrik915, What is a PMH sensor? I haven't seen it referenced anywhere.

Netspeed · 05-09-2009, 08:37 AM

+1 on the grounds!

gerlando · 05-09-2009, 02:25 PM

The problem is fixed! I'd like to thank everybody who offered advice in this thread. In the end it was my own idiocy that caused the non start issue. Yesterday I had pulled the relay one of the relays in the engine compartment and cleaned up the contacts for the rear wiper because its inoperative. I should have mentioned this in my OP, but I checked that the relay was seated correctly roughly 5 times before posting. What I didn't notice was that I had disconnected the entire rear relay panel when removing the panel cover! (image below). I plugged it back and and voila, easy start up!

I spent an hour or so this morning testing grounds and found the battery ground was starting to corrode, so it wasn't wasted time.

Yesterday was a bummer as the car wouldn't start & I had to take the wife on a date rolling in our Prius. Today the sun is shining in WA, I was able to take my daughter on a drive around town, & everything is right in the world :-p

pozee · 05-09-2009, 02:55 PM

Great to hear. At least the chariot is ready and waiting for a Mother's Day drive for the Mrs..