burned starter?

[munkee]

I've got a problem with my 92, one that I had before with it. It won't turn over. I replaced the battery, wires, and starter a few months ago, then the rod bearings and it's been running great since then. The gas mileage was a bit low though. I drive truck so it sits for a couple of weeks at a time. A few weeks ago after a run I got in the car, let the fuel pump prime then tried to start it. It strarted to turn over but stopped, as if it was stuck. I held the key on for a couple of seconds, at first thinking that it was just a slow turnover from a weak battery but let off when it didn't keep turning. I cycled the key, let it prime, then tried it again. This time it turned over really fast and I had to crank for several seconds before it caught and fired. I figured the fuel had just drained back. No problems whatsoever for a couple of weeks. Then, I had to take a load out to Wisconsin just before thanksgiving. I pulled up to the office and hopped out of the car to get some paperwork. When I got back in, I thought the fuel pump seemed kind of loud. I backed up to the shop and shut the car off while I threw my stuff in my truck. I try starting it so I can park out of the way, and the pump doesn't even prime. I tried turning it over twice for 3 seconds at a time with 30 seconds in between but no go, I know the fuel pump is dead so I just leave it. I got a chance to work on it today, dropped a new walbro 190 in it that's been sitting around and try to start it. All it does it click once every time you hit the key. The battery has full charge, all the connections are tight, no corrosion, pump primes now, but it won't turn over. The new starter hasn't even been on the car for 5000 miles yet. Does this sound like a burned out starter or something else? Thanks, Chris.

 

[frosho]

Solenoid? Something (ignition-related) in the steering column?

Just throwing some ideas out for others to build on.

But, was the solenoid replaced along with the starter itself?

 

[Eric VerValin]

I know you said the battery was charged, but did you get it load tested? If you hear the click, then the solenoid *should be working ok. I just went thru the battery thing with my car.. volt meter said it was ok.. battery charger said it was ok, but when put on a load test at AZ it failed. All that being said.. another thing to check would be the connections on the starter itself. Almost sounds like with all the new parts, that maybe the ground is a little loose there on the block / starter. Could be another case of the cold weather shrinking things a bit.

And where did you get this starter from? Reman? New? I wonder if its a reman unit with an old spring maybe... you said 5000 miles too, are they short trips? Reguardless, sounds like something that should be covered under warranty somewhere. Maybe pull the starter and battery and run to AZ or something if all else fails.

 

[munkee]

It's a reman from sturdevants. I live a ways from sturdevants now. My drivings split between in town and highway trips. I'll try to get it into the shop today and pull the starter to have it tested. I'll run the battery in too. I'm pretty sure it's good but I've been there too many times before. Isn't the solenoid on the starter on a 92? The last starter was shorted out. It popped a fuse on the testing machine. Not sure what would have caused that though. Just to clarify also, the clicking is from a relay on the firewall, not the dead battery click. Thanks for the help so far.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Yea.. and our alternators are puny too, so more of a load on the system. I got some bulk battery cables that were a bigger size to help with voltage drop .. I'm trying about anything to keep the electrical system in check.

Another thing I just thought of.... I know on my starter.. that little pos connector that is the actual 'signal' from the switch in the steering colum.. well my plastic got hot, and its semi melted, I wrapped mine up with tape to keep it from shorting against the side of that starter.. which just so happens to be tied to that big fatty ground wire.. I wonder sometimes when mine is moody if that connector is just that bad. The more I think about it, I'm going to re run that wire on mine.. lol the wire is so corroded its stupid sitting next to the new ones..


Also.. have you ever replaced that ignition switch? you almost gotta check everything in that starting circuit.. the joys of 'troubleshooting' Do you have a multimeter by chance?

 

[Eric VerValin]

^^ That was my 1,000th post ^^

sheesh.. I need another hobby, or another girlfriend or something....