I Hate My DSM, or My DSM Hates Me [Merged 12-8]

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

I hate owning my dsm too but love driving it.

Autozone sells alternators and starters with a no questions asked lifetime warranty (hint hint best investments I have ever made on this heap).

 

[Royalty]

pic of ground testing, tranny ground, alt live power and firewall ground.

 

[Royalty]

this may be a problem. why does this relay have constant power even though the key is not in the ignition? its says WDO on the box

 

[Royalty]

and no not a jump box this is what i'm using

 

[psychlow]

One thing I will mention - the only problem with testing it with a light is the fact that the light takes very little current (amperage) to power it and the starter takes a ridiculous amount.

Are your battery terminals clean and free of corrosion? Have you taken the oxidation layer off both the battery posts and the terminals to be absolutely sure?

If you clamp the negative of the chargebox straight to the ground near the starter, will it crank?

 

[kalla]

I noticed that no one told you how to turn the motor over by hand. Use a 1/2'' wrench and insert it into the end of the crankshaft sprocket bolt. It is accesible in the driver's side wheel well behind the splash guard. If you are trying to check for any sort of binding, I would pull out the spark plugs before trying to turn the crankshaft. If there is any binding you will know immediately. Just remember to put the car in neutral first

 

[BigDaddy186]

, you're using a jump pack? those things suck. go spend 50 bucks and get a brand new battery. If the starter just clicks it could only be a few possible problems.

Im with him, this happened to me before to, sometimes the jumpbox wont do the trick. 50 bux for a new battery or swap one that you know is good out of another car (dads) just to see if it will crank Goodluck man dont give up.
BTW......autozone can test your starter for free.....I should know I work there

 

[out there]

i know this is going to sound stupid... but how cold is your car? when mine has been sitting in the cold for a week or more, i get the same symptoms until i put a space-heater under the engine for a night

 

[Royalty]

i know this is going to sound stupid... but how cold is your car? when mine has been sitting in the cold for a week or more, i get the same symptoms until i put a space-heater under the engine for a night

well in VA its about 55-60 degrees here so i dont think the cold is a factor.

Are your battery terminals clean and free of corrosion? Have you taken the oxidation layer off both the battery posts and the terminals to be absolutely sure?

Yes i used batterminal cleaner and a wire bruch and worked them out.

If you clamp the negative of the chargebox straight to the ground near the starter, will it crank?

i havent tried that but i need to check for a spark and fuel. i will try turnign the cas by hand and waiting for somethign to happen

 

[4G63dsmpwr]

Hey man I feel for you! My DSM also SUCKS MAJOR ASS RIGHT NOW-

Damn I hate that car with a passion!!!

 

[ryanman]

And I bet you still haven't checked your ground cables.

 

[mysticfire6602]

if you dont have spark or fuel, maybe fuse 19 is blown in your fuse box under the steering wheel. its the one on the bottom right hand corner

 

[Royalty]

And I bet you still haven't checked your ground cables.

help me out
i thought i only had 2 coming off the batter
one on the fire wall and one on the tranny. othr locations i'm mising?

 

[RamenPride]

help me out
i thought i only had 2 coming off the batter
one on the fire wall and one on the tranny. othr locations i'm mising?

those are the only two...

 

[suicidal2af]

I noticed that no one told you how to turn the motor over by hand. Use a 1/2'' wrench and insert it into the end of the crankshaft sprocket bolt. It is accesible in the driver's side wheel well behind the splash guard. If you are trying to check for any sort of binding, I would pull out the spark plugs before trying to turn the crankshaft. If there is any binding you will know immediately. Just remember to put the car in neutral first

Actually, it's even easier to bust out a 3/4" ratchet with a socket around the bolt. Turns REAL easy with that much leverage--even with the sparkplugs in.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Actually, it's even easier to bust out a 3/4" ratchet with a socket around the bolt. Turns REAL easy with that much leverage--even with the sparkplugs in.

24mm sounds even better

 

[mysticfire6602]

im pretty sure its 22mm, or at least thats what mine is

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

On my 2.4 crankshaft its 24mm. On my 2.0 its 22mm.

 

[mysticfire6602]

ah, a 2.4, that makes a bit of a differnece

 

[Royalty]

ah, a 2.4, that makes a bit of a differnece

the size socket doesnt matter, i turned it already

 

[kalla]

I take it there was no trouble turning it over by hand, then? All indications now point to starter and battery.

 

[Royalty]

I take it there was no trouble turning it over by hand, then? All indications now point to starter and battery.

Yes she turned ove just fine. its just very svery strange to me. 2nd starter on her now and i'm not using a batt i'm using a machine in place of one. you can see a pic of it on the 1st page. it provides 14v (i tested it) so i can only believe that its gettin enough juice.

 

[BluemeanieTSi]

200amp starter charger? is that the cranking amps on that machine? if so that's your problem.

 

[Royalty]

200amp starter charger? is that the cranking amps on that machine? if so that's your problem.

200 amp starter charger

 

[Necromancer69]

I had the same problem. I just swapped out the battery and everything was good. jump boxes are crap.