Starter problems

[davis911s]

OK my starter is out of the car. It does nothing when I hook it up to 12V. No click nothing. I want to fix it myself but am wondering starter or solenoid.

There was power to the starter so wiring wasn't the culprit. I now know it is either the starter or solenoid????

Shawn

[Botman]

Was there power to the starter via the ignition wire? Mine worked its way loose once and the symptoms were no click, no sound but power was available everywhere else.

[davis911s]

Yes there was power at the starter, and there is still NO SOUND when I go direct to the starter with 12V with the starter out.

Thanks

Shawn

[Doug Zielke]

Hey Shawn,
You back home now?
I will be seeing JW next weekend at the swapmeet, and will deliver your gift to him. (I really enjoy the one you gave me, BTW).

Starter?
I'll have to think about it for awhile, but maybe your starter "caught" some starter disease from Susan's car during the Round-Up.

[Early_S_Man]

Shawn,

In addition to the large 10 mm stud on the solenoid ... are you also applying +12 Volts to the small #50 tab/Faston terminal?

[davis911s]

Doug I am thinking the same thing about Susan's car haha. I am glad you are enjoying the gift, I hope John enjoys his too. Leland if your lurking here I have something for you too, but you'll have to wait till I see you. I was hoping to deliver it at the roundup.

BACK TO THE STARTER

Warren, yes I was putting power to both terminals, and there is nothing.

Is there a way to just test the solenoid if I remove it? Or vice versa?

The starter is 4 years old BTW

Shawn

[Early_S_Man]

Shawn,

You should clean any rust, carbon brush residue, and dirt/grease mixture from the solenoid plunger before testinmg.

With the solenoid removed ... apply ground and +12 Volts to terminal 50 ... and the solenoid should click and pull-in the plunger very violently and positively.

[davis911s]

Thanks Warren.
I tested the solenoid as described and it worked perfectly , so now It must be the starter. I took the starter apart. The brushes are really good, it is quite dirty inside, so I am hoping a good cleaning will resolve my problems.

I have one question though, in the Haynes Manual (I know but Wayne's book doesn't have a chapter on starter rebuilds ) Anyways the Haynes manual says to ;

"Check the field coil for continuity using an ohmmeter. Test for earthing between the brush carrier plate and ground, between the field coils and ground, and between the armature segments and core, USING A TEST VOLTAGE OF 40 V AC.

Can someone explain in dummy steps how to do this? I was think of just checking with a ohmmeter, and if it beeps the continuity was good, what does the 40 V AC part mean?

Thanks

Shawn

[Early_S_Man]

Shawn,

Unless the armature is pitted and burned ... I wouldn't even bother with testing! It sounds like binding from being dirty was your problem.

Just reassemble it using moly grease on the bendix mechanism, solenoid plunger, and likage between solenoid and bendix! It will probably work like new!

[davis911s]

Thanks Warren the armature looked really good actually. Tommorrow I will clean it all up, re-assemble then post results.

Shawn

[Doug Zielke]

Shawn,
You can easily get the armature tested by taking it to any Auto-Electric shop. They will put it on a device called a Growler.
This easy test will tell you the state of the armature without any guesswork.

[davis911s]

Doug, Sorry I cleaned it and re-assembled it before I read your post.

BUT it still doesn't work , The starter still does nothing! I am going to take it apart again and have parts checked or I may just bring it down to the auto electric shop here and have them test it.

I can't figure out what it could (is) be? But again I am no electrical genious either.

Shawn