Bad starter?

[phillabaum03]

Ok guys first things first. The car is a 98 gsx AUTO. I traded my copper 2g for this car and this car needed a trans so I got the car and put a built head and new trans and put it all back together and now when I go to start the car i get NOTHING! No crank, nothing. I checked the starter and it is all hooked up. I jumped the starter by hooking up a wire from the positive on the starter to the battery and it cranks, BUT doesnt turn the motor over, so its NOT engaging. Sounds like a starter right? What I dont get is why it only seems to turn the starter when I jump it and not just turn the key? Any ideas guys? thanks in advance

 

[phillabaum03]

9 views and no ones got any idea?

 

[Bones420]

I had same problem a month or so ago, after hours and days of testing it came down to the wire that connects to the solenoid on the starter to tell it to start. Don't know if A/T are same as M/T but that was the problem for me, i installed a push button start. Worked like a charm...

I started with testing my relays and checking fuses but didn't get any changes.

 

[phillabaum03]

pm sent

 

[phillabaum03]

ok so I put a starter in it and nothing still!!!! AHHH. When i turn the key over to start I hear the fuel pump which is kinda odd. and my lights DIM....any ideas?

 

[92_1g]

Pull your fuse box up and check the the thicker wires for signs of chaffing, shorting, and corrosion. My 2g M/T did this and i found the wires had been chaffing and shorted eachother out leaving only a couple of strands of wire to do the work. Not enough current could flow through the wires

 

[phillabaum03]

Pull your fuse box up and check the the thicker wires for signs of chaffing, shorting, and corrosion. My 2g M/T did this and i found the wires had been chaffing and shorted eachother out leaving only a couple of strands of wire to do the work. Not enough current could flow through the wires

checked the engine fuse box and wires and everything seems to be fine... any more ideas?

 

[tristanmb81]

get a friend to whack on the starter with a hammer or something hard while you crank the car. i do think that your starter is not engaging properly. if the car turns over then your starter needs replacing.

 

[phillabaum03]

get a friend to whack on the starter with a hammer or something hard while you crank the car. i do think that your starter is not engaging properly. if the car turns over then your starter needs replacing.

when I turn the key NOTHING happens. the starter dont even turn over...

 

[tristanmb81]

go back and double check your wiring.

 

[tristanmb81]

you said that the auto trans was removed for repair? so this tells me that the switch for the gear selector has something to do with this problem. the car needs to be in park or neutral to start, so if that switch is not hooked up then your car won't respond. once again double check your wiring.

 

[phillabaum03]

yes it now has a different transmission then what came in the car...could it be that the gear selector switch on the new trans is bad? Would that cause this? here I go to check if its in park and plugged in.

 

[phillabaum03]

its plugged in and in drive...now what?

 

[snowborder714]

So the car has a different transmission? Starters are transmission specific. Make sure you have the correct one.

 

[phillabaum03]

I dont know exactly what year the trans came from. I bought it from a dsmer on here. There were a different clip or 2 and my flexplate holes werent EXACT so i had to open them up a bit. My guess is the trans I got came out of a 95-96? So I cant use my 98 starter? If the starter was my problem wouldnt it ATLEAST try?

 

[phillabaum03]

according to autozones website a starter for a 98 and for a 95 has the same part number..

 

[tristanmb81]

well it can't be in the drive or reverse position and instead in park or neutral.

 

[phillabaum03]

yeah man its in park

 

[tristanmb81]

does the dash lights turn on in the "acc" position? have you tried honking the horn, turning on the lights?

 

[phillabaum03]

just tried and yeah bro, everything you mentioned works... why dont you come to PA and help haha

 

[tristanmb81]

sorry dude i am in rome italy

 

[tristanmb81]

i wish i could come there to help you out bro. its frustrating trying to help you online.

 

[snowborder714]

So you're sure your battery is good, your positive terminal connector (that has the starter wire running to it) is tight on the battery with a good connection (ie no corrosion), that all 3 connections are good (2 on starter and one near thermostat housing), and that the battery has a good ground? There's a lot wiring wise that could be wrong.

If everything is in good standing wiring wise, I don't know what to tell you other than try a different starter. I'm not familiar with auto transmissions.

 

[phillabaum03]

im italian, come pick me up haha. Ok Brian i'll give all that a shot and get back on here and let you guys know. Im going to get my starters checked today. I kinda hope their both bad so I can just order one. thanks guys, I really appreciate all your help. Im not too familiar with autos either, but got a good deal only reason why I got one ha

 

[tristanmb81]

good luck!