Doesn't start or crank

[BostonGST]

A couple of days ago my car had a really hard time starting like the battery was low. I opened the hood and tightened the + terminal and it started fine. Day later it happened again and i jiggled the terminal connections and it was fine. I wanted to fix the problem and figured it was the terminals so unhooked them and sanded everything down and made sure everything was tight and secure. Well now when I turn the key the lights turn on and I hear a little winding noise noise for a second then nothing, no cranking. I redid the battery ground and checked all the fuses under the hood they were all good. Then checked the battery and it's at 12.4V.

I searched the forums and all the old links are dead, any suggestions on what to test?

 

[Arron Bowers]

Could be a possible bad ground on the stater solenoid. See if you can jump the starter and just cuz you have good voltage in a battery doesnt mean its not bad could have bad cells use you dmm and check the voltage when it trys to get turned over see what you come up with and allso 12.4 is kind of low... To but should be enough to start a car...

 

[BostonGST]

Thanks I'll try jumping it later tonight. And from reading other posts I want to check the starter relay, I have it pulled out and has 4 pins, anyone know what they are and how to test with a multimeter?

 

[Arron Bowers]

Well you can check that by checking the continuity a relay pretty much opens and close from pin to pin so probably 2 positives and 2 negatives i dont think its that but worth a shot buddy

 

[Arron Bowers]

Use ohms on your dmm if it reads something then its probably good if you get an ol or a 0 then its bad

 

[luv2rallye]

You may have a bad battery cable (internal cracks, brittle, corrosion, which drop too much voltage on heavy loads like a starter yet light loads work) and need to replace it. When they get old they often go bad.

 

[bliixx]

You may have a bad battery cable (internal cracks, corrosion, which drop voltage) and need to replace it. When they get old they often go bad.

I'd say the same.
2 weeks ago my '95 wouldn't start. I turned the key one click and got lights and beeps and as soon as I twisted the 2nd click everything went out, no power at all.
Ended up being the [+] terminal had corroded and I had to cut off about 2" to get to good wire.

 

[BostonGST]

I took the battery to Autozone to get load tested and it checked out okay. Was at 65%. I trimmed the ends of the wires to cut the corroded areas out and put new terminals on and added an extra ground. Went to start and still just hear the fuel pump and lights/radio turn on. Used my buddies car to jump it thinking 65% might be too low for a crank but got nothing, not even it trying to turn over

 

[bliixx]

Check your ignition wire going to the starter right next to your 12v hot wire. On my '96 where it clips in it's broken and every now and then I have to pop my hood and push it back in cause I get the same problem, no turning over but it's just the ignition wire on the starter is loose. I have 2 other starters but I just haven't swapped the clip out...

Other than that.. ignition switch ?

 

[BostonGST]

I checked the wire and it's connected well. I have the radio out and when I turn the key all the way i get the fuel pump noise and something engaging in the radio area, i'm guessing the starter relay? If it was the ignition switch wouldn't the pump and relay not be turning on? This leads to it being the starter right? I know I can test it but now just have to figure out how to get it out , 2 bolts but don't know how to approach it. Anyone have an 'easy' way or a tutorial online? And could it be anything else besides the starter?

 

[bliixx]

Well I'm not sure about the 4g63 since I'm a 420a whore. On mine its a 15mm bolt if I remember right. One on the transmission side and one on the block side. The one on the block side you have to use an extension and go in behind the exhaust manifold to get to it. Whatever you do disconnect the battery first so you don't ground it out and arc a spark.

But yea that is the starter relay behind the radio.

Have you tried roll starting the car ?
Bad ground is the only other thing I can think of but... I dunno

Take a screwdriver and touch it to the ignition on the starter and the 12v on it and see if it turns over. If it doesn't your solenoid is probably gone.

 

[luv2rallye]

Your large battery negative should go to a starter mounting bolt (http://www.dsmtuners.com/attachments/tranny-mounting-bolts-2g-fwd-jpg.90081/). Another cable from battery negative to firewall.

Finding voltage drop problems with starter: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/99-gsx-electrical-problems.451894/#post-153140611.

Starter removal: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/starter-removal.99375/#post-1480872. It's a tight fit but it will come out. I find it easier to disconnect the starters large positive and solenoid wire from beneath the car (jack up). Clean and tighten the connections at the starter first (under the car is easiest) before pulling it in case that's the problem. You can even touch a positive jumper cable to the starter positive and solenoid from under the car to test when it's still installed (careful not to touch anything else metal with jumper cable).

 

[BostonGST]

Turned out to be the starter!! I took it to autozone to test and it was bad so threw another in and it works!

This link helped me alot with the starter removal: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/starter-swap-install.309555/


Thanks for all the help I appreciate it!!

 

[OWL79]

Good deal I was thinking it was the ignition wire to the starter or something starer related. Cool