[urq] Starter - Wiring Issues?

[Ben Swann]

Yes, solenoid was enabled by ign. switch, so not ign. switch.  Just for some reason, decided not to turn over for more than a second before acting as if I had a dead battery - which I could tell was not the case as charger indicated that it was OK.

I saw the convoluted mass of ground leads and one going from chassis to mount bracket - was not able to address that yet, but no doubt should be cleaned up.  I already did some other ground points.

The negative cable to chassis at battery under seat is sort of a joke.  I replaced that with one from a 4kq that allows two points to connect to the frame.  I intend to increase the number ground entry points into the frame and to the engine.  I know that the frame can carry plenty of amperage to the starter.  I suspect problem(s) are occuring with the limited number of attachments to and from the frame that over time get oxidized and not conduct so well.  Also there was no ground to the bellhousing as there is on the 4kq and 5kq - I think adding another path for a ground somewhere will add to reliablility, just this is not so straigtforward with the battery under seat.

Anyway, with this cleanup so far, cranking has noticably improved.  I'm sure it is original starter - big thing compared to the 4kq and 5kq starters.  But it should still be good as the car is just over 100kmi.  It cranks strongly when things are working.

Ben

[Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 13:08:38 -0800
From: "Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz at kla-tencor.com>
Subject: RE: [urq] Starter - Wiring Issues?

... from your statement I will make the assumption that the solenoid is
pulling in reliably but the speed of cranking is less than you might expect.
If this is an incorrect assumption there will be a few more alternatives,
but given this situation there are only a couple main possibilities.  I
would say that IMO it is most likely that you need to replace your starter.
Does your car still have the original, non-reduction drive unit?  These
starters don't seem to spin the engine as quickly as the newer reduction
drive starters.  The other place to look is at the ground braid from the
engine to the frame near the left side engine mount ... and don't forget the
battery ground connection to the frame if you did not check that.  I had a
bear of a time on the 5kCSQA where it seemed the car would have starting
problems whenever the wife drove it ... I finally had a chance to get to the
car when it was failing ... and I found the bolt attaching the ground braid
to the body was loose ...

Steve B
San Jose, Kaleefohnia (USA)
> 
> All of a suddern(not the first time)  starter is not cranking 
> as if the battery has died.  I went to charge the battery, 
> but it is showing near full charge.  Maybe the starter is 
> dying in this '83 UrQ, but I am wondering if there are any 
> places I'd be experiencing high resistance and/or loss of 
> connection between the Under seat Battery and the starter.
> 
> I cleaned up the positive connection at the starter as well 
> as the battery and the battery is new.  I plan to revisit the 
> major positive connections at alt, starter and ground behind 
> the block.  Are there any other major areas I might be 
> getting a current drop?]