Starter don't - 4k 4 cyl, non-Q

Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN) BSWANN at arinc.com
Thu Aug 31 11:11:09 EDT 2000


Alan,

When I turn the key, the voltage drops and the lights in the switches, etc.
go out.  I just replaced the battery, as the car started having hard start
problems just after I got it.  New Battery, motor started and ran OK, esp.
after I cleaned up the vac lines, etc.

The car sat while I was working on the front end.  I tried starting a couple
of times and noticed the problem, but didn't think much about it at the time
- I'd deal with the starting problem after I got the front-end back
together.

If I run 12V direct to the solenoid terminal(as you suggest below) --> no
clicky.  I have not been able to get anything in to try to bypass the
solenoid, partly due to the bad weather, partly due to the tight and blind
location of the starter.  First, indications are it is a bad solenoid,
except for the fact that the voltage appears to drop when I turn the key.  

All else seems normal, fuel pump runs, voltage =12+, guages activate.

I kick myself for giving away perfectly good starter, and not resolving this
problem when I had the front end out and could access everything easily.
But Hindsight is always 20/20.

Regards,

Ben

>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Alan Kramer [mailto:ackramer at hotmail.com]
>Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 9:54 AM
>To: BSWANN at arinc.com
>Subject: Re: Starter don't - 4k 4 cyl, non-Q

>Check your voltage across the battery when attempting to crank.  If drops
to 
>zero, then either bad battery or shorted motor.  Replace battery and verify

>blown starter motor.

>If OK, then suspect solenoid or wiring to solenoid.  Run wire from battery 
>to solenoid w/ 1/4" female terminal on end.  If clicks then wire.  If not, 
>new starter...

>BTDT, PITA...
>Alan

>>From: "Swann, Benjamin R.  (BSWANN)" <BSWANN at arinc.com>
>To: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: Starter don't  - 4k 4 cyl, non-Q
>Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:11:51 -0400
>
>The 4k fixer-upper I've been working on now doesn't crank.  I don't even 
>get
>the solenoid to click when I ran a hot wire to it.
>
>This thing is a real pain to get to just to diagnose.  Any suggestions on
>what I can use to jumper between the Hot post and the motor power post
>without shorting out to something else around.  It is a rather blind area 
>to
>work in, and I can barely get my arm in to where I can feel the bolt post
>with the wires and the one that I would normally lay a screwdriver across 
>to
>jumper bypass the solenoid.
>
>I need to get the car started so I can move it to where I can work on it
>easier and let the car run for awhile.  The battery is new and fully
>charged, and the engine was running fine before I replaced front end
>components and the starter seemed to mysteriously die.  I'll worry about
>starter replacement later, if that is even the problem.
>
>Appreciate any BTDT on this one as this starter motor access is a PITA, and
>my experience with pulling the starter off the parts car was to remove the
>trans mount just to get to the starter bolts.  Ironically I gave that
>perfectly good motor to a friend.
>
>TIA
>
>Ben Swann
>'86 4k using part from '87 4k so I can have spare transportation while
>working on
>Project GTQ - '85 4KCSQ receiving massaged '87.5 GT motor.
>>




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