Car 'binding' at startup

[SHOtimer]

It does this when warm, or driven in the last couple hrs..never when cold. It will not physically turn over the engine..it will (wa wa) and then start..the lights on the dash will dim in and out with the wa wa, or the starter tryin to turn over the engine. If I turn it off and try again it will start right up, and sometimes it will do it then just stop and crank right over, in the same key turn. Would old plugs, wires cause this, i don't think so. Have new starter, battery, fuel pump, cps, cam sensor, DIS, can't figure it out to save my life.
Doug

 

[Jr's Sho]

It sounds like an electrical problem, on an older Tercel I had it did the same thing until I replaced my battery. With the lights going dim, that would seem like it would point to your charging system and the delay in starting would either be charging or your starting system. Or very possibly your ignition switch.

 

[aleksander j]

i have the same problem with ,mine 89 mtx, is sounds like the engine can`t deside wich way it should run, the lights are dimming a bit, i belive the sparkplugs have a finger in this. it starts fine the secound time u try doesen`t it?

 

[aleksander j]

on secound thaught, it can`t be the battery, i have a brand new 900A.

 

[sdpatt]

Sounds like a failing starter.

 

[SHOtimer]

well, u point to my starter and battery...it did this with both the old starter and battery, so i replaced them..and it still does it..they are about a month old..the battery and starter that is..so since it did this with the old and new battery and starter..i causes me to think they don't play a role...so i am left with?
Doug

 

[Jr's Sho]

Grounding wires? There are about 6 or 7 under the hood, maybe you have a loose or corroded ground cable or wire. It's a possibility, they play an important role in your electrical system.

 

[Kevin Airth]

This points to a grounding or connection corrosion problem. I have had both of my SHO's refuse to start and had a shop tell me to replace the battery and/or starter. Both times a cleaning of connections fixed everything. Also consider replacing the battery cable clamps or if they have been replaced look for corrosion running down the wire underneath the insulation.
.
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[shojuan]

My lifetime warranty Kragens starter started doing this for a while, oh a year, year and a half ago or so. Finally the starter died in June. I got under the car and started removing the starter so I could get a new one at Kragens. Then I noticed one of the small connections on the starter was incredibly loose. The little bolt was stripped. Got a new bolt and washer at a parts store for free, starter works perfectly again.

Rick

 

[SHOtimer]

When I replaced my battery I cleaned up my battery connections..and put anticorrosion stuff on them. The cables themselves don't look to healthy..should I consider replacing them? Also, where are these 6-7 grounding places in the engine..if I could find them and inspect/clean them..that would be useful..Thanx
Doug

 

[SHOZ123]

and put anticorrosion stuff

What kind? Not a di-electric grease I hope.

 

[SHOtimer]

It is called "Qualco....battery anticorrosion"..it reminded me of vasaline..kinda greasy like that. It had the binding problem before I put any of that stuff on the new battery. Why would it be a bad idea to put di-electric on them?
Doug

 

[SHOtimer]

Would it be a bad idea to put di-eletric on the starter connections..and where the battery cables connect to the block, and where the negative connects to the computer in the little pastic connection...would that help solve the problem?
Doug

 

[rangerj]

Ditto, everybody above!

Do your battery cables have a green or white powdery corrosion? You said they do not look healthy.

The black battery cable is the main ground, and it attaches to the engine. Is this end of the battery cable clean and making good contact?

There is a ground wire attached to the back side of the intake manifold, and then to the firewall on the passanger side.

There is a smaller ground wire next to the battery, toward the rear and screwed into the fender well. The two attaching bolts for the crossover plennum (passanger side) are "grounds".

There are a few others, check the service manual for their locations.

Check your battery. A poor connection could result in poor charging, and therefor the weakness you describe when trying to turn over the engine, even though it is a new battery.

Check your charging system (alternater). If you are running off of the battery, and not recharging it, you would have the symptoms you describe, that is a weakness in trying to start the warm car. After the car has sat for awhile, the battery recovers to a degree.

Even though you have a new battery, it could be a bad one. It happens! The same is true for the starter. An amp draw test will tell you if the starter is OK, or not.

Radio Shack, Sears, and most auto parts stores sell a good muti-meter for testing electrical systems for amperes, volts, ohms, and continuity.
A good meter can be had for $30 to $50.

If you are going to do your own mechanical work on your car, you are going to need one. rangerj