starter ground

[Andre]

where is the starter ground connected? does it connect to the bellhousing or to the frame on the driver side of the starter? or somewhere else?

thanks

[Makis]

I think the starter must be bolted on the bell housing so it gets the ground through the bolts. The belhousing gets the ground from the chassy, etc. Does this answer your question?

[IceShark]

The stock ground is at the back of the engine block. Current then runs down through all the metal bits to the starter.

[Andre]

thanks, i already figured this out, took the starter off and all but cant figure out what the hell is wrong with the car!

getting low voltage in the car when i drive, and then suddenly the car wouldn't start, even when i jump it. I push started it into the garage and took the starter off, it seems like someone has already rebuilt it before. Battery is fine, alternator is new, it seems like the problem is coming from a short somewhere but i have no idea where, could deteriorated wires from the battery to the starter cause low voltage and the starter to just click when i turn the ignition??!?!cant figure it out, trying to for like 2 weeks now

[IceShark]

Yes, the positive to starter or the negative ground to the block could be rotted inside the insulation, at the connector crimp and/or at the connection interface point. Use a multimeter to track problem spot down. Or you could take a shot at cleaning up the connection points and hope for the best.

[Bob's944]

Start from the battery, it's been 2 weeks, i'm guessing you took it to a good parts store and had it load tested to be sure it's good, plenty of batteries out there are used batteries that are cleaned and relabled and sold as new... or they just go bad early. Once you know the battery is good, make sure both connections to the battery are good. If there is a bad connection with a good battery, interior lights and stereos might work, but typically when a heavy load is placed on it, like high beams or a starter, the connection will fail and act like the battery is dead or weak. What happens when you put on high beams with the heater/a/c fans on high also? Do they get real weak or go out? or do they stay bright? After you're sure that end is happening, then go to the starter. Sounds like you tried to take it off and work it outside of the car, you can do that by putting the negative to the starter housing. Better yet, take it to a good parts store that tests them for free, find out if it's still workin good or just on it's last legs and about to weld itself solid. It could be either the starter or solenoid going bad . If both of those are good, then it's time to start looking at corrosion within the wiring.

If might want to make sure your alternator isn't the culprit too, it might have been made on a Monday or something.

[Andre]

i took the starter out, i connected the battery to it and it spun. i connected it through the wires at the bottom of the car while it was still in the vise and it spun(meaning wires are ok), when i put it back in i did not connect the wires and connected it right to the battery and it didn't spin. i am thinking its dieing and just cant take the load from the flywheel or whatever.

but this still doesn't explain the voltage problem i was experiencing earlier and still am actually. When i push start the car it runs but the gauges are off and all over the place and the voltage gauge hangs around 12. Could the bad starter be causing a short somwhere or no?

[Bob's944]

What happens when the car is off and you have your fans on high and high beams on? lights weak or bright? where's the voltmeter at?

What happens same senario with the car running? where's the voltmeter now?

[Andre]

when i reconnect the battery cable it sparks. But it only sparks sometimes and sometimes doesn't. I turned off the 2 lights inside the car, fans and all are off..should it be doing that?or do i have a power cable touchign a ground somewhere?