Car dies when I crank it?

[mrgrim333]

So I have lights, power, action. Until I try to engage the starter?
Then it goes black, like a bad ground. Then randomly it gets life again. Rinse lather repeat. All started after a short drive? Help?

 

[93markVIII]

uh. dead battery.
have the battery and the alternator tested.

 

[AREA 91]

Double check your battery connections.

 

[rubydist]

from my experience with similar symptoms, I am guessing (only guessing) that you have a starter with shorts in the windings. depending on how the starter motor is oriented, it will either just sit there and draw a huge amount of current, or it will start almost normally.

Unfortunately, it is a relatively common occurrence, especially if you just let the oil from the filter drain down over the starter when you change oil, or if the oil cooler seal is leaking (which is also very common).

 

[mrgrim333]

Check the terminals, good, has a charge (even tried a jump).
Replaced the alternator 2 months back. Checked all the connections, it's good.

So after laying under my car (best I could without a jack), I saw that the starter positive wire that runs to the solenoid was exposed (but not grounding on anything. I pulled on it lightly and it broke. I was trying to strip it and the other side (starter side) snapped off from that little plastic housing thingy. I cleaned up the wire and attached it to the positive battery cable line. When I left it off and tried to crank, I didn't do that, all black, grounded for a minute then lights come back business.

Then after trying to get that damn cable back in to the cracked cable holder I managed to get the car to spin the motor or solenoid, sounded like a fan almost, spinning but not catching anything. Then when I got a nice firm connection (or so I think), it was doing that grounding business again...
Bad starter? That's my vote, sound right?

 

[kevinspann]

Is the trigger wire for the solenoid still attached?

 

[mrecoolgar]

Remove the battery connections.
Clean them then reinstall with dielectric grease.
Make sure they are tight.

 

[mrgrim333]

So after tearing out my starter, redoing all the wiring and trying to start again. Same thing. Then, as I was using my probe to trace the line I got a spark off the positive terminal clamp when I pushed some of the stray wire to it. Open it up, completely corroded out. Replaced the terminal clamps and BAM. Back to new. Just wish I'd tried it before tearing out the starter... Oh well. Live and learn.

 

[SHOdded]

Gotta love electrical systems! They make you think something big's gone wrong, while the little gremlins just sit their laughing their a***s off at you