Electrical Woes

[ElectronicStress]

Greetings all, I come seeking knowledge. I’ve used the search feature, found nothing relating to my agony.
In my driveway resides a 1990 300 ZX (non-turbo’d) with an automatic transmission. I’m being what I hope is a good potential father-in-law and promised my little girl I’d help.
What I did to make her this mad, I’ve no clue.
Car had a multitude of electrical gremlins which I’ve amazed myself by actually correcting most of them by re-soldering cut wires, taping bare wires, removing a good 15 feet of 14 ga. primary wire (4 foot of which was grounded on both ends.) and re-plugging connectors together. Grounds are clean, and cables are relatively new with no green corrosion. I’ve no idea how many previous owners/experts/gurus were involved or what they wanted to accomplish.
I’m good right up to the point where we turn the key to crank it over. Starter spins like the devil but the bendix does not kick the gear out to engage the flywheel. I’m registering about 12.36 volts on a fairly new battery. Solenoid relay in the front left wheel well tests good per the manual. The solenoid wire is showing hot with a test light when we go to crank it. Having the starter out on the ground I can make it spin AND kick the gear out. Just won’t do it in the car.
I’m willing to admit I may have done something stupid since I’m more of a Harley and pickup truck type. Please have mercy and suggest something, anything I might be over-looking.
Otherwise I’ll probably go ahead and sacrifice a chicken on the hood this weekend…

[twinturbozxtacy]

most likely the starter, i had a similar problem on an old mustang, and then my girls vw beetle. if you can get a junk yard starter or a new one. there is a big diff from a starter being in the car and spinning on a bench. Also idk about auto z's but maybe the starters are diff? idk something to look up...

[z32loverboy]

I would say it is the starter as well. Probably something electrical inside the starter itself that's muffed itself.

[ElectronicStress]

First, thank you both for the replies. I do have a starter out of Pull ‘N Pay that’s been dropped off at a local automotive electric house. I’ve used them before for rebuilding generators, starters and such. They're slick; know their stuff. I’m supposed to have that back next week. Maybe should have tried it first, but it’s not like I’ve never seen two used parts that weren’t both bad.
I hate not being sure. Guess the chicken gets to live a few more days.

[z32loverboy]

Sounds like eggs for breakfast. I wish I had a reliable generator rebuilding place around where I live. My '58 could use a refreshed alt and starter.

[ElectronicStress]

Sounds like eggs for breakfast. I wish I had a reliable generator rebuilding place around where I live. My '58 could use a refreshed alt and starter.

I use J & N Automotive in Cincinnati Ohio. Website is:

http://jnelectric.com/startpage.asp

Call them, find out what costs and shipping would be. Might work for you.

[z32loverboy]

Thanks! I'll check into that

[300zxstanced]

Sounds like the starter, but while the starter is out, you may want to make sure the teeth on the fly wheel are also in good shape, just in case. Had a friend who had teeth worn off on his flywheel and the starter wasnt able mesh up.

[ElectronicStress]

Good news and Bad news...

Rebuilt starter and new battery cables cured it. That's good I guess.

Actually the closest I can come to bad news is after all aggravation under the dash and hood, the car was sold at a modest (very modest) profit...my driveway is cleared and I can go back to a top end job on a HD engine. Thanks for the help guys!