Starter, batt cables, or ignition switch?

[whiteman_01]

Well, the 93 wouldnt start for my girlfriend yesterday. I went to check it out last night (left it in a parking lot) because she said there was no power to anything. When i got there i opened the door, and all the lights came on. When i tried to start it everything went black again.

Ok, easy fix, so i thought. I checked the grounds and there were tight, so i went to the positives. The one on the battery was tight, but the one on the starter was loose. Well, it was dark and getting cold so i left it till today.

I get there today and try to start it again with the same results. (hoping just to get it to my garage) I had picked up new battery cables just in case on the way to the car, but when i took the positive off the starter, it took all the studs threads with it. I also notices at that point the ignition wire had broken off of the starter. Luckily i had a receipt from the previous owner for a lifetime warrantied starter.

After all of that i went and got the new starter and put it in. Also it came with a new ignition switch lead so i got that hooked up as well. The car still wouldnt start, but, it did not loose power when you tried to start it. I also tried to jump the solenoid, and the starter spun, but didnt engage the flywheel with the same results 2 more times.

I then crawled back into the car and for grins tried to start it again to no avail. Then for a few minuets i said a few choice words and thought about how to get it home. Tried the key one more time, and it started!

On the drive home with the car i shut it off going down a hill to see if it would start again and it wouldn't. But once i got it home (after driving home, back to the lot to get my truck, then back home again, (about 30 min)) It started five times in a row. I dont get it.


So.. Do i trust it? With the ignition wire breaking off, could it have grounded out and caused an issue? Do i replace all the cables with new stuff?

Sorry about being long winded, i just want to figure this out.


Thanks!

 

[K-Dawg]

You could have push started it to get it home...

Sounds like you have a connection problem.

 

[Vnuk1]

Well I would first check and see if your getting 12 volts coming from the battery to the starter, and make sure the battery is fully charged. If you have a loose connection between the two that could cause it. That is a weird one. Hope you still make it to the meet on Sunday!

 

[Devin]

Something is intermittantly connecting and disconnecting. I know on my car the ignition switch "went out" but when I went to replace it the connector was hanging off of the unit, which was probably my bad at some point.

Anyway, if you can get it to start every time by jumping the solenoid I'd guess it's either the ignition switch, the wiring or the clutch interlock.

 

[whiteman_01]

You could have push started it to get it home...

Sounds like you have a connection problem.

I tried that but it didn't start. The rest of the time i was messing with it, jiggling wires and what not i couldnt get any power at all. When i went back over today there was power.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

One way to check for a bad connection (ie. resistance) is to check the battery-to-starter cable after a failed start attempt. If there is excessive resistance in the cable(s) due to a bad connection or bad starter (starter field grounding-out), the cable will heat-up - in some cases to the point where you need to be careful not to burn your fingers.

 

[itwonder]

Weak battery. Charging system may not be keeping it charged, or battery may be end of life.

 

[SHOZ123]

Are you sure the starter is not engaging the flyweel?

Mark the accessory belt and see if it turns when you bump the starter.

Had the same thing happen to me and the car was flooded. If the motor is turning then floor the gas and crank for 30-40 seconds.

 

[ctwrench]

Been there...

Check the wire coming off the back of the alternator to the battery. The connector on mine broke and the car went instantly dead and after wiggling things around, it started and drove for a while. Then wiggled itself loose again and died. That was fun to find!

 

[whiteman_01]

The battery checks out good with the load test on my meter. Its an optima red top thats not too old. Also, since i got the car home, it hasnt had a problem starting.

If i can find connectors big enough, i am going to make better battery cables for it as the ones i bought from o'reilys suck. I may even do the cable that goes from the starter to the fuse box. The cable is going to be overkill for sure, but its not getting used for anything else.

Also, if i can find my service cd, i am going to test the wire that goes from the ignition to the starter. I will probably replace this wire also, as it is a little chewed up.

 

[Devin]

Off topic, What are the stock battery cable sizes? My positive is about as a big as a #2 or #0.

 

[whiteman_01]

Not sure, i would guess a 2 gauge cause they are bigger than the replacement cables i bought. The ones i bought are 4 gauge, the ones i plan on making on the other hand are 00.

 

[doclees]

What starter did you install?

 

[whiteman_01]

Its a raymond from Napa (i know i know), but i had the receipt from the last owner so it didnt cost me anything.

 

[doclees]

I don't know that brand but I thought Napa had better parts. I know the Palladin brand from Advance Auto were crap for me. Went through 5 in 3 years. They have changed their re-manufacturing company since. No trouble yet with this one.
I also had trouble with oxidation on the battery terminals. Went to a marine type connector with a butterfly screw and eyelet on the cable end. Much better contact and much easier to remove, which we do so often changing starters or something.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

While NAPA use to be more reliable . . . .

The number of complaints about dead-out-of-the-box alternators and starters suggests they're sourcing their rebuilds like Advanced, AutoZone, and other cut-rate aftermarket parts suppliers have.

If you're getting oxidation, it usually means the battery is venting gas around the affected post (ie. escaping between the lead battery post and plastic battery casing).

 

[genob2]

Had a similar problem on my '92; turned out to a bad coneection on the clutch safety switch

 

[SHOZ123]

Off topic, What are the stock battery cable sizes? My positive is about as a big as a #2 or #0.

Stock is #6.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

For Gen II, I believe the positive cable is 3-gauge, and the ground cable 4-gauge wire.


6-gauge ? Maybe a 3.0L SLO . . .

 

[whiteman_01]

Im really not sure what the deal was with the car. But it has been starting fine for the last few days. At first with the new starter and cable, it would start. But after a few tries it finally did.

Thanks again to everyone for the help.