SHO needs push start... please help!

[Cohiba]

Okay... my SHO won't start. I have power, but she just doesn't turn over. I can push start her, and she runs just fine. So... this means the starter is bad, right? Is there any other explanation... everything I can think of, and everything "looks" fine. Is there some specific way to test the starter?

Supposedly, the starter was rebuilt within the last year... according to the previous owner. I checked my Chilton's and it doesn't have much to say about the starter. They appear to be simple removal and installation instructions... has anyone replaced this themselves? Is there anything difficult that I'm missing involved? I'd like to buy a starter off of a parts car and just replace it myself, if that is feasible.

All of this, is of course, based on the starter being bad, so let me know if I should check something else before I get a new starter.


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Click Here for my SHO's racing, modifications, specifications, and lots of other SHO information and links

 

[olympic]

Clean the battery posts first. If that doesn't help, then use a test light to see if there is power all the way to the starter(have someone turn the key while your holding the tester.) If there's power there then it's the starter. Then try whacking the starter with a hammer while the someone holds the key in "start". If it starts then the starter has a dead spot and needs to be replaced.

 

[SHO SPD]

I replaced my starter just 2 weeks ago, its not hard at all, just remove 3 bolts and a couple wires, its real easy, but after I replaced my starter, my car still did NOT start, all it did was click once, then I replaced the starter relay and BAM started right up. Good luck!

BTW: just jack up the front of the car to gain easy access to it, there are 2 bolts over on the driver side,one has a couple cable attatched, just pull those off the bolt. Then there is another bolt over on the passenger side of the starter, and also a wire screwed down on a little thing on the starter, you will see where everything is when you get your new starter.

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Matt
1989 Titanium
ITS FOR SALE!!!!!
e-mail me for details, would like to sell SOON.

 

[Gez89SHO]

I just had the same problem, finally got it fixed this weekend. Same symptoms - try to start: click, just one click. Checked the Battery, connections, cables, relay, it was all good, but still just got a click. Even got a new starter, same thing.
What happened was the ground on the starter was not connected. The negative cable connects to a bolt on the tranny. Current then passes through the starter brace, which bolts to the end of the starter. There was also a cable guide (holds starter cables), which was mounted in between this brace and the starter (same bolt). This guide was insulated and it was not letting current go thru. Once I bolted the brace directly to the starter, it worked fine. So that's something to check before getting a new starter.

Edit: since my starter wasn't the problem, I decided to put it up for sale. It's posted in the parts section.
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Gezim
1989 Currant Red
coneless, painted SHO lettering
Subframe Connectors, 16x7 Team Loco 143's

gzim.freeservers.com
LSHOC member

[email protected] IM: gzimi

[This message has been edited by Gez89SHO (edited 02-12-2002).]

 

[sho_boi]

I had a similar problem in my 89 sho, but it was the Starter module in the streering colum. It is not real easy to get to, but you need to take off the colum covering and you will see it on the left hand side directly oppisite of where the key goes in. Probably would have been easiers if I had take the Streering wheel completely loose.

 

[Cohiba]

Gez89SHO:
I just had the same problem, finally got it fixed this weekend. Same symptoms - try to start click, just one click. Checked the Battery, connections, cables, relay, it was all good, but still just got a click. Even got a new starter, same thing.
What happened was the ground on the starter was not connected. The negative cable connects to a bolt on the tranny. Current then passes through the starter brace, which bolts to the end of the starter. There was also a cable guide (holds starter cables), which was mounted in between this brace and the starter (same bolt). This guide was insulated and it was not letting current go thru. Once I bolted the brace directly to the starter, it worked fine. So that's something to check before getting a new starter.

Crazy... That's exactly what the problem was here, too. I also went and got a new starter, then actually got under the car to remove the old one, and noticed the stupid ground wire dangling free. Reconnected it, and it works just fine... Fortunately, AutoZone was kind enough to give me a complete refund for the starter I bought.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[KyngofPop]

Gez89SHO:
I just had the same problem, finally got it fixed this weekend. Same symptoms - try to start: click, just one click. Checked the Battery, connections, cables, relay, it was all good, but still just got a click. Even got a new starter, same thing.
What happened was the ground on the starter was not connected. The negative cable connects to a bolt on the tranny. Current then passes through the starter brace, which bolts to the end of the starter. There was also a cable guide (holds starter cables), which was mounted in between this brace and the starter (same bolt). This guide was insulated and it was not letting current go thru. Once I bolted the brace directly to the starter, it worked fine. So that's something to check before getting a new starter.

Edit: since my starter wasn't the problem, I decided to put it up for sale. It's posted in the parts section.

Had the same exact problem this week, and the same solution. Imagine, I push started my car for 2 months and this problem was solved for $30 by a generator shop...Doh!!!