Stuck in SoCal!

[Nessa]

I'm so sorry if this is a repeat thread, I tried searching, but I'm not doing that well with the searching of the forums. I'm having some problems getting my car started. Heard a buzzing when I tried to start the car, coming from the starter. Starter is now replaced. I have no headlights now, and the dome lights are dim. The positive battery terminal seems to be heating up when we try and start it as well.


AutoZone tested the battery, it's fully charged according to the charger. I'm not sure where else to look. I really need help, because if I don't get this fixed by next week, I'll be stuck here. I, of course, am visiting my parents for the holidays when all this happened.

 

[19sho90]

I'm so sorry if this is a repeat thread, I tried searching, but I'm not doing that well with the searching of the forums. I'm having some problems getting my car started. Heard a buzzing when I tried to start the car, coming from the starter. Starter is now replaced. I have no headlights now, and the dome lights are dim. The positive battery terminal seems to be heating up when we try and start it as well.


AutoZone tested the battery, it's fully charged according to the charger. I'm not sure where else to look. I really need help, because if I don't get this fixed by next week, I'll be stuck here. I, of course, am visiting my parents for the holidays when all this happened.

Is the Connection free from corrosion on the Battery side, and where the wire goes to the starter?? Tight? Mine was loose and same stuff happened. (Usually the Red is where corrosion builds up.)

 

[NEp8ntballer]

check your connections to the starter.

ps I can think of worse places to be stranded.

 

[19sho90]

check your connections to the starter.

ps I can think of worse places to be stranded.

Ina dark alley in the Middle of downtown at 3Am????

 

[SHO Continental]

Why are you parking in alleys in downtown anyways?!

If your headlights aren't coming on after a starter swap you messed up the wiring. Double check everything.

 

[rubydist]

if the battery terminals are heating up when you try to start it, in my experience there are only two possibilities:
1. you have a serious short somewhere (starter motor shorted, wired wrong, etc.)
2. you have a loose connection on the battery post that gets hot.

 

[19sho90]

Yup. Exactly.

 

[SaltyDog]

ps I can think of worse places to be stranded.

+1

Break, Break -

If your battery terminal is tight, and your starter connections are tight - trace out the positive lead. There are places between the battery and the starter where it can chafe and ground out over time....

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Where are you in SoCal? Maybe I can help.

I would make sure the connector is cleaned and properly connected.

 

[Vnuk1]

Check the black Distribution Block on the Firewall on the drivers side, there is a connection on the left side that gave me the same issues you're have right now. That wire runs from your Firewall to your Starter and Battery. The wires get brittle and crack inside the plastic making a bad connection, I removed mine and resodered it.

 

[typhoon5000]

Going on with checking the connections for the pos and ground on the battery, make sure to clean and wire brush the terminals themselves. I've had similar issues before on my CVPI and all I had to do was clean the battery terminals and clamps with that special wire brush they make for that (sold at any parts store) and it was good as new!



The heat could be from increased resistance trying to make a connection through the crud on the terminals (depending on how much heat you're talking about).

 

[Nessa]

Both terminals are clean. Fuses are okay. Starter is probably wired okay, but this started happening after the starter broke, but before it was fixed. I had some guys messing with it that shouldn't have been. I didn't think they were doing anything, but I don't really know for sure, because I had my back turned to them at some points. I'm not sure where else to look for this short. Gonna try a voltage meter, but really not sure what I'm looking for.

 

[SeanMc]

Where in SoCal are you? I'm in Anaheim.

 

[Nessa]

Near Riverside.

 

[jedhead]

What year is your SHO? The GEN1 had external solenoid for the starter and may be shorted. I agree with others that something does not sound like its tightened. Maybe we need a maintenance meet.

Bob

 

[Nessa]

It's a '92, so Gen II, far as I know, no external solenoid. And the car definitely needs a lot of maintanance. The B/F wants me to sell it and get something newer. He's convinced it's more trouble than it's worth. I really like it though, and I'd rather fix it up than sell it, so long as I don't go bankrupt doing it.

 

[rubydist]

sounds like you need a new bf

 

[luigisho]

Keep an open mind about getting another car if this thing gets too maintenance heavy. You can get into serious money maintaining an older car that may not have been kept up before you got it.
Serious money is a relative term, but younger folks who don't make alot of money can get in over their head quick on any maintenance hog vehicle.

 

[Nessa]

but younger folks who don't make alot of money can get in over their head quick on any maintenance hog vehicle.

And I'm in college too. The fuses seem to be alright. We're gonna start working the voltage meter around, see what we can find.

 

[dogstar]

I agree, you might need a new b/f. It just happen that I am single too! Are you willing to move to NC? Got a red gen 2 like yours.