3.2 MTX - No start.

[SHOspazz92]

Today I drove Ashley's SHO home from the store. As soon as I got home and shut down the car, I decided to start it again to re-position the car.....and nothing. The car will not start. I have Fuel, Plenty of it. The Starter can be heard BARELY Clicking (At least I think it's the starter I hear clicking).

Anyways, Since my driveway is down hill, I decided to pop start it just to see if it will run. Got it rolling, Released the Clutch and it starts right up.

Now, Should I got ahead and assume that the starter is shot? I've checked all Fuses, Wiggled around the Wires on the starter itself, Tapped the starter with a Hammer, Nothing. The car has never had issues with the Starter and generally starts up very quickly (For a car that has Oil in 3 of the plug wells, don't worry, That's getting taken care of soon as well ).

Keep in mind, The car will run if pop started.

Any other Idea's? I HAVE to get this fixed very fast as I deploy on Saturday for 6 months. She'll have my truck to drive, But I don't want to leave her pride and Joy sitting in the driveway not working.

-Sam

 

[llamaking122]

yeah sounds like the starter to me. Have a great turkey day!

 

[Racer X]

Sam, jump the starter solenoid terminal to the positive terminal of the starter with a long screw driver. If the engine cranks, look at the ignition switch. If no engine crank, starter is shot.

Keep your head down over there, Sam.

 

[SHOspazz92]

Sam, jump the starter solenoid terminal to the positive terminal of the starter with a long screw driver. If the engine cranks, look at the ignition switch. If no engine crank, starter is shot.

Keep your head down over there, Sam.

I hate to say it, But you lost me here.

The positive Terminal is going to be where the Battery Cable connects to the Starter? And the Solenoid Terminal is where...? It's hard for me to Imagine this without being under the car.

-Sam

 

[93rev2sev]

make sure it's in neutral!

 

[93rev2sev]

 

[whiteman_01]

I would bet its the solenoid on the starter. I have had the positive post break on them more than once. Also make sure the switch wire is still in tact before you pull it all apart.

 

[milestoldyouso2]

there is a red cover on the end of the solenoid (unless it has fallen off) pull this off and there will be two large studs with nuts, one conected to the battery cable and one conected to the starter motor istself, use a screwdriver and touch the two terminals at the same time, (expect some sparks) if it cranks than its a bad solonoid or somthing is not triggering the solenoid, if not its a bad starter motor, if it cranks then pull the smaller conecter on the solenoid located on the side of the two posts and apply power to it with the screwdriver across the battery cable terminal, if it cranks then there is nothing wrong with the starter/solenoid and your problem is most likely the key switch or something else down the line like the clutch petal interlock or somthing, good luck!

 

[SHOtimer]

Try knocking on the starter with a hammer or the spare tire lug wrench. It should work after you knock it. If so, the starter is binding and that is your problem.....

I can swap the starter in my ATX in 15 minutes....damn Autozone starters. I just replaced my 8th one yesterday.

Doug

 

[SHOred]

You didn't say if the battery has a good charge. Did you check it?

 

[SeanMc]

It's either crank cancer, vacuum leak, or starter.

 

[SHOspazz92]

You didn't say if the battery has a good charge. Did you check it?

The Battery, While newer...has died a few times due to the lights being left on more then once. This was the first thing I Checked however.

-Sam

 

[hawkeye18]

Starter is bad. Swap that *****.

 

[SHOspazz92]

Starter is bad. Swap that *****.

Starter is good. The Ground on the starter had come off. Free Fix FTW.

-Sam

 

[93rev2sev]

Oh good, you didn't run yourself over with the "jump the solenoid" manuver.

 

[SHOspazz92]

Oh good, you didn't run yourself over with the "jump the solenoid" manuver.

-Sam

 

[93rev2sev]

All I have to say is...

My brother was lucky he was on a creeper...and that he backed into the garage.

 

[shobote]

Had similar problem with my Mitsubishi; The copper contacts in the solenoid can get oxidized over time and then lose conductivity. I replaced the contacts in my Mitsu for a few bucks, but not sure if they can be bought for the SHO. You could also try filing the surface oxidation off

 

[hawkeye18]

Starter is good. The Ground on the starter had come off. Free Fix FTW.

-Sam

Yay! I should've thought of that, too; the exact same thing happened to my 94 a few years ago. Just goes to show just how many problems a bad ground can mask itself as...