Strange starter issue (Maybe)

[theother1wstolen]

I've been through about 5 starters now, and im thinking only one of them was actually messed up, when I hit the key, it clicks, and thats it, doesn't spin, what in the hell could cause this other than the starter? I really doubt that i got 5 bad starters back to back.
Modified by theother1wstolen at 2:12 AM 6/11/2008

[Vegascorbin]

I doubt it too.

What have you checked? Battery? Wiring? Realys? what happens when you jump +12 directly to the starter?

Although you can get a bad replacement part from time to time, if you replace something and nothing changed then that part was most likly not the problem.

Check a few more things and report back.

[moulton712]

this doesn't appear to be a starter problem. the silanoid on your starter is what you hear clicking. what's happening is one of 3 things.

#1 you are not getting enough amperage to your starter. how old is your battery? change it. #2 there is one wire going to your starter silanoid. unclip it then clip it back in. you might have corrosion. this is the positive lead. (i could type out why there is only 1 wire going to the silanoid and the silanoid has 4 poles but your do not need to know.)#3 how long has your car been sitting? possibly the flywheel is stuck.

to be honest i think your problem is #1.

[Florida240sx]

Flywheel stuck?What is your battery voltage?Hook jumper cables up or jump box to yoru current battery. Then try starting it.Report back. You have a battery problem or wire issue. Check the power wire from the battery to see if it's cut or anything.

[theother1wstolen]

ok, the connection to the terminal on both the battery and the starter is fine, the battery is a brand new 1000amp duralast gold, and i have a second duralast battery for the audio in the trunk (on an isolated circuit that only closes when the car is running), and if the flywheel were stuck wouldn't that make a rapid clicking, rather than one single click?

[Vegascorbin]

Not nessicarily. The click you hear is the solinoid engageing and trying to move the gear into position on the flywheel. You will hear "click, click click" when there is not enough voltage/current to hold the solinoid in place. Of course the starter motor is suposed to be turning while this is happening also.

I would try to turn the crank pully by hand (big wrench) just to eliminate a frozen motor. Cheap fairly easy test.

[theother1wstolen]

sorry i think i should have been more specific, this isn't a constant problem, its on an off, some times i get in the car and it starts fine, sometimes it clicks once then starts fine, sometimes it takes 10 minutes to get it to turn over. for example ill get in, turn the key get a single click, then turn it again immediately, and it starts up no problem.

[A-ron]

i had that same prob it was the wires from the key switch its only a foot long a little screw to the key switch and the other end is a clip i got my new one from a junk yard for 20 bucks. it fixed my clicking. i found out by feeling the wires after like 50 clicks rapidly of me turning the key the wires got hot as hell try it never now.

[srpowered240sx]

sounds like your starter relay. i had the same problem years ago, search for starting issues with my name as the creator.

[theother1wstolen]

i swapped the relays around, and it was still doing it and nothing else started acting up, ill take a second look at the relays and make sure i swapped the right one, and where exactly is that wire that your talking about a-ron? is on the steering collumn? and also, how is that if the problem is at the ignition, that the selonoid is getting power at all?

[srpowered240sx]

i swapped the relays around, and it was still doing it and nothing else started acting up, ill take a second look at the relays and make sure i swapped the right one, and where exactly is that wire that your talking about a-ron? is on the steering collumn? and also, how is that if the problem is at the ignition, that the selonoid is getting power at all?

theres only one relay, so i dont know what youre switching. between the battery and fenderwell on the d/s is where the blue starter relay is at.

[theother1wstolen]

what i mean by i dont if i swapped the right relay is the labeling for a couple of them has worn off over the years, and i just swapped a bunch of the compatible ones around.

[A-ron]

its on the steering colum take the black or tan plastic off thats almost touching the steering wheel ull see it the wires are in a piece of plastic that screws to the ignition switch where the key goes mabe on of the wires came loose.mine did the same thing made a click noise under the hood every time i turned the key forward to start it. just check in to it what do u have to loose?

[PhopsonNY]

In other words... sounds like it may be more of an ignition switch problem

zerothread/332827

[Kalypso]

In other words... sounds like it may be more of an ignition switch problem

zerothread/332827

Phopson you are the designated "its you igntion" guy

lmao

not that your wrong, but its so funny

[theother1wstolen]

quick update, i just had some free time to check and it did in fact turn out to be my ignition switch, so im ordering a new one now. thanks again for all the help!

[Vegascorbin]

Thanks for reporting back what the problen finaly was. Need to file that in memory for future referance.

Thanks

[theother1wstolen]

np, also partsamerica.com has the niehoff ignition switch for $23.99

[Kalypso]

quick update, i just had some free time to check and it did in fact turn out to be my ignition switch, so im ordering a new one now. thanks again for all the help!

PhopsonNY was right all along

[theother1wstolen]

ok boys and girls, i just got my new ignition and it apparently wasnt calibrated properly, and needs to be turned about 1/8th of a turn more than the key can actually turn it to engage the starter, anyone know if theres a way to compensate, or do i just need to return it?

[theother1wstolen]

more issues, put the new ignition in, and new relay, still happens sometimes, though not as bad, anyone have any ideas what else could cause this?