Replaced Starter, still won't start

[bjam2]

One morning my 91 Eclipse 1.8 liter manual, decided to just do nothing when i turned the key. All the accesories and electronics worked but the starter just did nothing, no crank at all, or any noises even. I decided the starter must have went out, installed a new one, still does the same thing. Runs perfect if push started. I'm told all the fuses are good but can't confirm this.

What could it be?

 

[huafist]

Check the fuses yourself - the ignition fuse may be hosed. Also check the clutch safety switch and the battery connections.

 

[rodwa4]

sounds like a soleniod to me. did you check/replace that?

 

[rodwa4]

oh, and does it make a click sound when you turn the key? if so, your battery conections are just weak.

 

[bjam2]

The solenoid is on the starter, so that got replaced also. I charged the battery for about 1/2 a day so that should have been fine.

 

[gurrmanator]

One morning my 91 Eclipse 1.8 liter manual, decided to just do nothing when i turned the key. All the accesories and electronics worked but the starter just did nothing, no crank at all, or any noises even. I decided the starter must have went out, installed a new one, still does the same thing. Runs perfect if push started. I'm told all the fuses are good but can't confirm this.

What could it be?

just a little humor but I bet if someone tried to steal it...the damn thing would start rite up and run great

 

[bjam2]

Hah, you're probably right.

This is driving me insane, what could it be?

 

[justin0469]

i know it sounds dumb but you might as well check, cant hurt. did you check the electrical connections after you put in the new starter?

 

[bjam2]

The problem began when the car wouldn't start with the old starter. I'll check with the new starter though.

 

[sjgYFZ200]

Hows your ECU doin?

 

[bjam2]

ECU should be doing fine since it runs fine when push started.

 

[bjam2]

OK so when i try to start it, everything (lights, radio, etc) works, but when i turn the ignition they dim like it would normally and i can hear the solenoid give one click like its not getting enough power to crank. I think that its a bad ground. Since the starter, solenoid, fuses, ignition, all seem to be good. A bad ground would explain it since the starter takes a ton more amps than anything else in the electrical system. Does this sound right?

Does anyone know where i can get wiring diagrams/schematics.
Or at least how the ground cables come off the battery. I see one goes the the firewall and one looks like it goes to the engine block, is this all?

 

[92redman]

Check the voltage drop between the terminal and post on both pos and neg while attempting to crank. Does your starter solenoid actuate when you turn the key to crank? Have you tried bench testing either starter?

 

[huafist]

Replace the post terminals on your battery wires, and clean the posts on the battery.

 

[luv2rallye]

A bad ground would explain it since the starter takes a ton more amps than anything else in the electrical system. Does this sound right?
Or at least how the ground cables come off the battery. I see one goes the the firewall and one looks like it goes to the engine block, is this all?

Yes and yes. And the big positive cable goes to the starter.

Starter not engaging possibility:

If it's not your battery, starter relay, or starter, another possibility is poor cable connections from the battery to the starter. I'm talking the big cables. The ends can get corroded, dirty, not tight, or partially broken (inside) where the cable meets the terminal. If there is even 0.1 ohm resistance in the path from battery to starter, it will drop so much voltage when you crank that there won't be enough voltage left on the starter (needs to be more than 8 volts at the starter). Remove and clean both ends of these cables and battery posts and secure tightly. Do both the battery positive to the starter and battery negative to engine (connection to engine must also be clean/tight). Also try wiggling them to check for breaks. After doing this if you measure the voltage across the starter itself while cranking and it's less than across the battery posts themselves (while cranking), one of the cables is your problem and needs to be replaced. You can measure the voltage drop across each cable while cranking to find out which - should be close to zero. Or you can connect a jumper cable from battery negative to engine block. If it now cranks your negative cable/connection is bad.

 

[DiamondStarM]

Did you ever figure out the problem, was it the terminal connections?