starter woes

[bd1308]

the starter doesnt like to turn...I dunno why.

I have to manually start it via the screwdriver trick (NOT IN GEAR) or pop the clutch.

when the screwdrive trick is used, the starter is a tiny bit reluctant, but it does turn over and start up.

when cold, its MUCH worse.

b

[bd1308]

oh sorry, this occurs on two starters, one is newly rebuilt.

b

[Rouser]

Crappy/wrong-size battery, lousy cables & connectors, and high-current-and-voltage-demand "rebuilt" starters make for ssslowlowlowlow starts.

Clear up the above, add a hot-start relay, and you might fix the problem.

[bd1308]

Battery tests good on the FLAPS computer tester thing. Well it COULD in therory be bad, I havent had it checked since my engine grenaded and i had to use the starter for whole minutes at a time. I might check into a ebay high-torque starter. In fact i think i'll do that next paycheck or something.

b

[rcrgrl]

this maybe a silly question, but did you check the ignition switch?

[swl]

What she said. Failing that the seatbelt interlock - if you have one. Failing that the connections through the relay board. If it cranks with the screwdriver but not with the key you basicly want to follow the yellow wire back.

A multimeter or even a test light is a good tool here. Look for 12+ volts on the yellow wire with the switch on start (measure to any ground point). Careful when you test on the ignition switch - it is easy to short out terminals and put power where you don't want it.

[bd1308]

I replaced the switch three months ago.

It was BADLY cracked.

b

[swl]

OK - So get a meter and measure the voltage that you are getting on the yellow wire at the starter with the key in the start position. Compare that to the voltage across the battery with the key in the start position. They should be really close to being the same.

[bd1308]

now the starter uses the YELLOW wire to INITIATE a start?

i hear a click (on both starters) and nothing turns.

But the screwdriver trick works on this starter.

b

[rcrgrl]

I had the worst time with my starter - went through 2 starters, 2 ignition switches, and hot relay fixing it... i like the idea of checking the relay board. then you can at least isolate which half of the wiring is the problem ; whether its from the ignition to the board, or from the board to the starter.... or so the theory goes!

[swl]

Originally posted by bd1308
now the starter uses the YELLOW wire to INITIATE a start?

Yup. 12V on the yellow wire energizes the solenoid which really isn't much more than an oversized relay. That switches on the supply to the starter motor - current coming from the big cable back to the battery. When you use the screwdriver trick you are supplying the 12 volts to turn on the solenoid directly from the battery instead of Battery->switch->seatbelt->relay panel->solenoid