Car Wont start...... more inside

[nsm484]

Ok, i've searched, and have not found my exact problem, so I am starting this thread.

I get in my car, all lights are nice and bright.... However, when I turn the key.... I get nothing.... No Response from the starter.

Battery Check: Good
Terminal Check: Good
Ground Wire Check: Good

Now, this happened about 2 weeks ago... however, after sitting for 8 hours while i was at work, i come home, and it cranked without problem.

What I find odd, is it cranked earlier in the day without a problem, and that was around 5pm... then after sitting for a few hours (tried cranking her at midnight to grab my Midnight Taco Bell) and nothing. The starter doesn't even click.

Any Idea's of where I should start... or Where I should begin testing? I am confused

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SOLVED

UPDATE: After alot of testing, and it finally deciding to complete stop working, it was indeed the starter. Lucky, there was ONE in town, $110 after core.
Now she starts up without any problem.

Man... that was fun running inside after getting her home, trying to learn how to take the starter out, running back outside, taking it out, going to get the new one, rushing back to put the new one in with 1 1/2 hours of sunlight left when it died LOL

Thank you everyone for the tips, etc.

I will refer back to this thread once I get the Bosch Relay

[SoCal LS-L]

Try tapping hard on your shift lever next time it wont start..... the switch that keeps it from starting in any drive gear can stick sometimes disabling the starter. Or just switch to neutral and try starting from there. If those dont work then suspect your ignition switch.

[nsm484]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

Try tapping hard on your shift lever next time it wont start..... the switch that keeps it from starting in any drive gear can stick sometimes disabling the starter. Or just switch to neutral and try starting from there. If those dont work then suspect your ignition switch.

I tried the Neutral Trick with no response... however, is it normal for the SVX to make a... how to explain... small electric motor noise, when the key is in, car is on... but not cranked, and you put it into any gear? (R, D, 3, 2, 1)?

I found that kind of odd.

[nsm484]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

Try tapping hard on your shift lever next time it wont start.....

I just went out and Tried that (Never knew my left arm could twist around the wheel to get to the key like that LOL) but got no response as well.

Now, I did notice something.

As my battery does check out, Volts and Amps are good... when I turn the key as to crank her, the lights do dim (but not to the point of loosing power, but enough to notice if you stare at them)

[SoCal LS-L]

Since they dim it seems the starter IS getting amperage...... the only conclusive test is to make sure your main cable to the starter is cleanly contacted there, then hook up a multimeter to the much smaller signal wire (the only other wire besides main at starter) and look for 12 volts when you try to start the car. If you get the 12v signal when key is turned and the main battery connection is good at the starter, then you have a bad starter.

[nsm484]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

Since they dim it seems the starter IS getting amperage...... the only conclusive test is to make sure your main cable to the starter is cleanly contacted there, then hook up a multimeter to the much smaller signal wire (the only other wire besides main at starter) and look for 12 volts when you try to start the car. If you get the 12v signal when key is turned and the main battery connection is good at the starter, then you have a bad starter.

Looks like I have a job in the morning

Thanks for the info, I will do that as soon as I wake up.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by nsm484

I tried the Neutral Trick with no response... however, is it normal for the SVX to make a... how to explain... small electric motor noise, when the key is in, car is on... but not cranked, and you put it into any gear? (R, D, 3, 2, 1)?

I found that kind of odd.

Fuel pump pressurizing the system. Standard Operating Procedure.

[pearlm30]

Bosch starter relay mod???

[dannmarr]

Monitor the battery voltage while you turn the ignition key.

[huck369]

Roger, try tapping on the starter with a piece of wood (hammer handle) then try it again....if it's weak brushes in the starter this will usually get it going again...but means you'll need to get another starter or have yours rebuilt soon.

[poweredx2]

Also make sure that little ground wire mounted against the firewall is clean and secure.

[longassname]

That threw me for a loop on my car too when I had your problem back in the day. The keyswitch disconnects the accessory circuit in the crank position.


There are several contact points in the ignition circuit. It seems like more than one of them go bad so there has in the past been some contention and hostillity on the subject when people have insisted it's this or that and other people insisted it was that instead of this because that's what failed on their car.

The spade connector on the starter solenoid can get crappy, the starter can get crappy, the ignition switch can get crappy, the inhibitor switch can get crappy. I don't know if anyone has checked the starter interupt relay adaptor but it would be another potential failure point on US models.

The relay mod seems to work no matter where your failure is. It doesn't have to be a bosch relay. Most auto parts stores carry a generic version of the bosch relay and even number the terminals the same.

I modified the illustration someone else here made to be a little bit clearer (at least in my mind):

Originally Posted by nsm484

I just went out and Tried that (Never knew my left arm could twist around the wheel to get to the key like that LOL) but got no response as well.

Now, I did notice something.

As my battery does check out, Volts and Amps are good... when I turn the key as to crank her, the lights do dim (but not to the point of loosing power, but enough to notice if you stare at them)

[nsm484]

now today i went out to start the car... and she cranked right up??? i even drove my mother-in-law here to her doc appointment (iphone ftw )

i will check the signal next time she acts up... also... the relay mod seems like
a decent enough mod to do even if you dont realy need it... so i might do that as well.

huck... you talked about the bushings going... wouls that give the same problem as i am describing? and what is the avg cost of a starter rebuild?

[huck369]

yeah, weak brushes can act weird like that....
the last one I had re-built cost me about $100 , if I remember correctly

[SoCal LS-L]

If you havent fixed the problem I dont think it has gone away on its own , it might catch up to you when you least want it to. The 12v signal wire test will at least tell you if you NEED to examine the relay system or if the starter is just toast. If you dont get the 12v signal..... then the starter may be fine and the relay system from the ignition switch on needs to be diagnosed.