Intermittent Starter/Solenoid Woes..HELP!!

[Mike92SHO]

I have had my SHO now for about three weeks.

Today, after driving it about 50 miles and parking it for 20 minutes I tried to start it. Key on, all power comes on but nothing when I turn the key. About 15 minutes later it fired up. Then drove it about 10 more miles and parked. Tried to start it immediately after parking and again, nothing. No starter action at all. 30 minutes later it fired up like nothing happened.

Then, I drive it home the 50 miles again. Park it at the house and shut it off. Try to start it again and it spins the starter no sweat...try it about 5 times in a row and it spins every time. Try it 5 minutes later and it is fine as well.

Ideas?? Is this a typical SHO problem? Also, is the solenoid replaceable or must the entire starter be swapped.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

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'92 Emerald Green SHO MTX. SHO Shop Exhaust, Subframes, Custom Chip, K&N Panel, Subframes & Tokicos

'85 LTD-LX street/strip car. Fully worked 306, C-4, Gutted screamer. Low 12's at over 110 N/A with 8.4 compression.

 

[Blast7]

It sounds like your starter is bad. Do you hear a clicking when you crank the engine and the starter doesn't move?

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Car of the Moment

1991 Black MTX
K&N Filtercharger
PP Motor Mounts
PP Y-pipe
Rod Shifter
Blazer Tech Fogs
"ur gonna love that sho, and everytime something breaks down..your gonna swear to all your friends that its going up for sale. and the minute you get it back you fall inlove all over again."~Blue

 

[Mike92SHO]

No clicking, I don't get anything at all.

I guess it is time for the $130 starter.

Mike

 

[Shoman94]

Originally posted by Mike92SHO:
No clicking, I don't get anything at all.

I guess it is time for the $130 starter.

Mike

I would test the solenoid relay first. Also check all your connections. I've seen dirty connections supply enough power when the key is on but as soon as you go to start it, it kills everything. But otherwise it sounds like the solenoid relay.



[This message has been edited by Shoman94 (edited 01-27-2002).]

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Is the rest of the car getting power? Cause if it isnt then it is the battery connections.

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92 White SHO
HiRevs Competion Clutch
SHOSHOP Engine Mounts
Koni Shocks
StrutTower Braces
UD Pullies
Awesome Sound System

 

[Duff]

Turn on the headlights when you're having problems. If the headlights don't dim, then the starter isn't drawing any power--most likely the problem lies in the starter solenoid or in getting power to it. If they dim, then the problem's in the starter.

 

[Mike92SHO]

O.K., where is the starter relay in this car? How do you check it?

Also, I was under the impression that you can't just change the solenoid on a Gen II car as it is built into the starter.

I would love to remedy this situation without having to pay for an yank the starter.

Thanks for any additional help,

Mike

 

[jimtash]

The relay is located on the left side in front of the strut tower. The battery cables are connected to it. You might want to look at your battery connections. Make sure that the cables are tight and not able to move.

I am also thinking of putting an oil filter relocation kit on my engine because the oil filter is located above the starter and as I change the oil filter, a lot of oil drips down on the starter. That can't be good for the starter.

 

[Mike92SHO]

Are you referring to the power distrubution box with the large fuses?? This is on the driver's side between the firewall and the strut tower.

When I turn the key there is nothing....no clicking, nothing. I turned the lights on and they did not dim when I turned the key. I noticed that the 60 amp fuse for the ignition also controls the blower motor. The blower motor will come on even though the ignition does not spin the starter.

My friend at the parts store just told me that the solenoid IS available seperately for the GEN II starter. Is this correct??

Thanks guys,

Mike

 

[Shoman94]

Originally posted by Mike92SHO:
Are you referring to the power distrubution box with the large fuses?? This is on the driver's side between the firewall and the strut tower.

When I turn the key there is nothing....no clicking, nothing. I turned the lights on and they did not dim when I turned the key. I noticed that the 60 amp fuse for the ignition also controls the blower motor. The blower motor will come on even though the ignition does not spin the starter.

My friend at the parts store just told me that the solenoid IS available seperately for the GEN II starter. Is this correct??

Thanks guys,

Mike

The relay is seperate but the solenoid is part of the starter. Check the relay. I posted in your other post.

 

[Mike92SHO]

Thanks for the help. I still don't know where the relay is or what it looks like. Could you please explain in greater detail where to find it. I am not sure what you mean by left side....are you referring to driver's or passengers. I am totally clueless here so treat me like the SHO idiot that I am!!!!

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Mike92SHO]

I just looked at the part online at the website you referred me to.

I also went out and scoured the engine bay with my shop light. I don't see this part anywhere. My battery cable go directly from the battery down to the starter. I can find no other point where they attach to anything. There is a small ground that splits off of the negative side and goes to the body. Other than that there is nothing. I traced the cables from the starter up and although I had a hard time following them it seems only one attached to another point...into the power distribution box.

I am really clueless here and I am desperate.

Is there any way that my '92 doesn't have this??? The part was listed as for a '92 Taurus/Sable so I should have it.

This is maddening.

Mike

 

[Shoman94]

Originally posted by Mike92SHO:
I just looked at the part online at the website you referred me to.

I also went out and scoured the engine bay with my shop light. I don't see this part anywhere. My battery cable go directly from the battery down to the starter. I can find no other point where they attach to anything. There is a small ground that splits off of the negative side and goes to the body. Other than that there is nothing. I traced the cables from the starter up and although I had a hard time following them it seems only one attached to another point...into the power distribution box.

I am really clueless here and I am desperate.

Is there any way that my '92 doesn't have this??? The part was listed as for a '92 Taurus/Sable so I should have it.

This is maddening.

Mike

well, I dug deeper into this. That solenoid is for the 89 to 91 SHO and on the 92-95 SHO's the solenoid is on the starter. The solenoid is replacable but no one does it cause its likely the starter will fail soon after. If I were you before replacing the starter I would clean the connections at the battery and also moreimportantly the connections at the starter. A lot of oil gets into this area and can contaminate the connections. Sorry for all the prior confusion.

 

[Mike92SHO]

O.K., well too bad. I wish I had the relay setup as that would save me mucho time and effort.

I am 99% certain, based on the above tests and indicators, that the starter is not getting juice and the solenoid is the cause of this nightmare.

You are saying that changing the solenoid alone is a bad idea since the starter often fails shortly thereafter?? Damn, that is too bad since I would rather spend $40 than $130.....however, I don't want to do the job more than once.

I wonder, why is there a listing for the relay for a '92 Taurus?? Was this equipment on the standard Taurus?

This is certainly a finnicky car. Recurrent ABS light, weeping radiator and now the starter. AND, this car was maintained to the upteenth degree by the former owner who was very meticulous and thorough.

Oh well, 104,000 miles.....time for it to fall apart!!

Mike

 

[Shoman94]

Originally posted by Mike92SHO:
O.K., well too bad. I wish I had the relay setup as that would save me mucho time and effort.

I am 99% certain, based on the above tests and indicators, that the starter is not getting juice and the solenoid is the cause of this nightmare.

You are saying that changing the solenoid alone is a bad idea since the starter often fails shortly thereafter?? Damn, that is too bad since I would rather spend $40 than $130.....however, I don't want to do the job more than once.

I wonder, why is there a listing for the relay for a '92 Taurus?? Was this equipment on the standard Taurus?

This is certainly a finnicky car. Recurrent ABS light, weeping radiator and now the starter. AND, this car was maintained to the upteenth degree by the former owner who was very meticulous and thorough.

Oh well, 104,000 miles.....time for it to fall apart!!

Mike

Yup..happened to me...I drove it to 100,000 miles then all of a sudden..repairs beyond belief.
Springs, struts, subframe bushings, tranny mount, tranny, clutch, brakes all around, mufflers, brake cables, radiater, relay box. O'well...all this in the last 4 months!

So I upgraded instead...hehehe



[This message has been edited by Shoman94 (edited 01-28-2002).]