Rebuilt motor started, now won't start!

[Cytrakz]

Hey what up guys, I'm at work right now on my phone so bare with my spelling.

I got my first rebuilt motor I did in the car on sunday but it wouldn't start due to a bad battery. So Monday I went and got a new yellow top optima battery and she started up first try! I was so happy, it idles nice and smooth. After fixing a few vacum lines and oil leaks, I probably started her about 10 times on the new battery.

Then all of a sudden she wouldn't start, it started off being a clicking noise like it would almost turn over. Then I got it to start 1 more time, then the starter started making a winding noise like it wasnt engaging the flywheel. So I took the starter off got it bench tested and the starter is fine. i also replaced the starter relay but still nothing.

So my dad told me to try the old pop the clutch trick and
That worked, so I know the motor is seized up or stuck.

I'm hoping you guys can help me out cause I want to drive it so bad lol. I'm thinking maybe the battery isn't charged all the way due to bad alternator. So it's not sending enough power to the starter?

Or possibly the selenoid on the starter, can they go bad and the starter still be able to engage?

Thanks in advace for any ideas you guys have!

[z32loverboy]

Check the Teeth on the starter, as well as the flywheel, make sure the starter is bolted up to spec but not too tight. Check all your grounds. make sure your battery connections are clean and all the way tight when they're on the battery. My money would be on grounds and battery connection. My car did that right after I dropped the engine in from my other Z and I had missed a ground wire that caused it to not wanna start.

SO was it able to be roll started or not? If the motor is seized then you'll have to pull the motor back out. That may have just been a spell check thing though.

[300ZXttZMAN]

So my dad told me to try the old pop the clutch trick and
That worked, so I know the motor is seized up or stuck.

I would like this to be clarified... So is the battery now dead?

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Yea, sounds like the battery is just dead. Use a battery charger in "start" mode, or jump it off. Could also be that your alternator is bad or not hooked up correctly to charge the battery.

Also, I got a bad battery "new" a few months back for my DD. Wouldn't charge, had to be jumped a few times. If you keep having problems and have verified your alternator is good, consider asking them to swap the battery.

[Cytrakz]

Thanks for the replies guys! Sorry about the spelling, I'm on my computer now.

To clarify the teeth on the flywheel and starter are good. The pop the clutch method was successful and I even turned the crankshaft with a ratchet so I know the motor isn't seized.

I checked all the grounds and they are good. I did some tests on the new battery with a voltage meter, I'm getting 12 volts at the battery and 12 volts at the end of the cable running off the battery to the starter. I even moved the cable around to see if there was a cut somewhere but nothing in the volts changed.

I just decided to order a new starter, it'll be in tomorrow morning. It's the only thing I could think of that's left. I'm thinking maybe the shop that bench tested the starter didn't know what they were doing lol.

I'll update you guys tomorrow, im trying to break her in already! Thanks again

[z32loverboy]

Yeah, that narrows it down alot. I agree that it's either the starter or the battery. could possibly not be getting enough cranking amps. Sometimes the new batteries will be defective and have a cracked cell or something dumb like that. Good luck and let us know if that fixes it

[Cytrakz]

alright so I'm back again with some better but still not great news lol. Got the new starter on today, she turned over the first like 5 times right away. Then after after that it only started periodically, like I would have to give it some gas for it to start.

Took her around the block twice though, she runs awesome!!!

I'm getting fuel and spark, I'm really stumped now though. Could it possibly be ignition switch or neutral safety switch? What would you guys suggest testing next? Also I had a battery charger on the battery when trying to start it, but I would still get the periodic starts and have to give it gas.

Thanks again

[Cytrakz]

Just wanted to update you guys, adjusted my crank angle sensor tonight after work. Shes been starting up every time for me since then so I think I found the problem! I'm going to look at it a little more tomorrow in the daylight but I think shes finally ready to go!!

[z32loverboy]

That's good to hear. I would take a timing light and make sure your timing is right on. Glad it's working out for you