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

[Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)]

We'll that would be much easier than replacing the starter now wouldn't it.

This is a brand new Champion Internatioanal battery, and registers fully
charged with my taper charger.  But what the hey, I've seen stranger things,
and have had defective brand new batterys too - never had one explode though
- thank God.  I guess to partially rule it out would be to try and jumpstart
from the 4kq.  

Assuming the batter is not bad, I need some kind of jumper to bridge the
poles on the starter, I keep looking around the garage, but havent come up
with anything.  It would be like a 1/0 U-shaped insulated wire with only
1/16" exposed on either end.  I can probably fabricate with some thing from
my houshold wiring - maybe just that  - I have some 1/0 wire I can cut and
try.

You know what I'm talking about.  I need to get my arm in with the wire and
blindly short the two terminals together.  I tried last night with a large
alligator clip, but was not able to without shorting out to something
grounded.  This was frustrating - in the rain.

Regards,

Ben

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Kramer [mailto:ackramer at hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 10:57 AM
To: BSWANN at arinc.com
Subject: RE: Starter don't - 4k 4 cyl, non-Q

What you describe sounds exactly like an internal short in the battery 
caused by high current drain as result of low water levels in a cell or 
multiple cells of the battery.  Even though it is new, check the water 
levels anyway and try a different one.  The danger w/ low fluid in the 
battery is explosion - BTSeenT.  Not fun, especially for rubber bits in the 
engine bay.

Alan

>From: "Swann, Benjamin R.  (BSWANN)" <BSWANN at arinc.com>
>To: 'Alan Kramer' <ackramer at hotmail.com>, "Swann, Benjamin R.  (BSWANN)"  
><BSWANN at arinc.com>
>CC: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: RE: Starter don't - 4k 4 cyl, non-Q
>Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 10:11:09 -0400
>
>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.
>