So, I think my starter is dead...
10-23-05, 06:56 PM
#1
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So, I think my starter is dead...
Yeah, today after a long drive, I stopped at Wal Mart, and had to leave, as most people do. Start the car, not even a click... tried again and again and again... nothing, tried to jump it.... nothing, still.... 
I'm boned... What should I do?
Pop the clutch and hope it works, and drive it my college parking lot, and fix it on my own.... OR call the tow truck and pay to get it fixed...
I'm thinking Option A... Since I'm picking option A, where can I buy a starter, and how much is it? Also, are there any other ways to check whether is does or does not work for sure?
Thanks.
I'm boned... What should I do?Pop the clutch and hope it works, and drive it my college parking lot, and fix it on my own.... OR call the tow truck and pay to get it fixed...
I'm thinking Option A... Since I'm picking option A, where can I buy a starter, and how much is it? Also, are there any other ways to check whether is does or does not work for sure?
Thanks.
Last edited by JSmith0101; 10-23-05 at 07:09 PM.
10-23-05, 07:40 PM
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HAILERS
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Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
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Did your car come with Theft Protection?
Do you know the location of the Trai Coil Assy?
Do you have a piece of electrical wire with both ends stripped and about three feet long?
Do you have a 10mm size socket and watchet (couldn't help myself).
If you have the above, your on your way to diagnosing your problem.
Also, when you turn the key to ON only, do the idiot lights in the Warning Light assy come on? Only answer if they did prior to your present problem.
Another question: do you have a digital meter (not required right now).
Lastly, do you have a hammer and know how to use it? Oh, and if your headlights are on, do they get really dim when you hold the key to START?
And lastly, last: Do you know what a CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH is?
Do you know the location of the Trai Coil Assy?
Do you have a piece of electrical wire with both ends stripped and about three feet long?
Do you have a 10mm size socket and watchet (couldn't help myself).
If you have the above, your on your way to diagnosing your problem.
Also, when you turn the key to ON only, do the idiot lights in the Warning Light assy come on? Only answer if they did prior to your present problem.
Another question: do you have a digital meter (not required right now).
Lastly, do you have a hammer and know how to use it? Oh, and if your headlights are on, do they get really dim when you hold the key to START?
And lastly, last: Do you know what a CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH is?
Last edited by HAILERS; 10-23-05 at 07:43 PM.
10-23-05, 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by HAILERS
Did your car come with Theft Protection?
Do you know the location of the Trai Coil Assy?
Do you have a piece of electrical wire with both ends stripped and about three feet long?
Do you have a 10mm size socket and watchet (couldn't help myself).
If you have the above, your on your way to diagnosing your problem.
Also, when you turn the key to ON only, do the idiot lights in the Warning Light assy come on? Only answer if they did prior to your present problem.
Another question: do you have a digital meter (not required right now).
Lastly, do you have a hammer and know how to use it? Oh, and if your headlights are on, do they get really dim when you hold the key to START?
And lastly, last: Do you know what a CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH is?
Do you know the location of the Trai Coil Assy?
Do you have a piece of electrical wire with both ends stripped and about three feet long?
Do you have a 10mm size socket and watchet (couldn't help myself).
If you have the above, your on your way to diagnosing your problem.
Also, when you turn the key to ON only, do the idiot lights in the Warning Light assy come on? Only answer if they did prior to your present problem.
Another question: do you have a digital meter (not required right now).
Lastly, do you have a hammer and know how to use it? Oh, and if your headlights are on, do they get really dim when you hold the key to START?
And lastly, last: Do you know what a CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH is?
No, it did not come with anti-theft.
Yes, I know where the trailing coil assembly is.
No, I do not have three feet of wire.
Yes, I've got a watchet and said socket.
The idiot lights do and did come on when I turn the key.
No multimeter, but I know a guy.
No hammer, I don't need it in college, but I do know how to properly work one. Also, my headlights dim slightly, just like they normally would.
I do not have a great knowledge of the clutch interlock switch, but I know about it... slightly.
10-23-05, 08:57 PM
#7
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Wel. I was going to suggest removing the Trail coil assy nuts and just lay it aside. You can leave all its wire connected. Look under the trail coil assy or near the area and find a bright BLUE connector with a jumper wire in it.
Remove that blue connector with the one jumper wire in it and set it aside. Then GET a piece of electrical wire that will reach from the positive post of the battery to the BLACK/WHITE wire in the connector on the HARNESS side of the Blue connector half you just removed. IF you put one end of the piece of wire in the socket where there is a Black/White wire and then touch the other end of the wire to the positive post of the battery, the starter should turn over. The key does not have to be on. The shifter does have to be in neutral.
IF the starter does turn over, then the problem is in the Interlock switch or the ignition switch, most likely.
IF you had a meter, and set it on dcvolts with the positive lead in the socket with the black/white wire and the negative on a good ground, you should read approx 12v when you go to START with the key and have the clutch pedal depressed.
If you don't, then what I'd do is find the clutch interlock switch at the very top of the clutch pedal and trace its harness til you find its plug. Then I'd jumper that plug on the harness side with a piece of wire to simulate the clutch pedal being in and go to START with the ignition switch. IF the starter runs, then the interlock switch might be bad.
About the hammer: If I heard a click at the starter when I had the jumper b/t the batt positive post and the black/white wire in the connector, then I'd suspect the starter solenoid/starter. I'd get under the car with it in neutral and jumper a piece of wire b/t the very small blade on the starter solenoid and the large hot wire. If the starter clicked again, I'd take the hammer and smack the starter on its body a couple of times and then try to jumper b/t the small blade on the starter solenoid and the large hot wire of the solenoid. IF the starter now turns, I'd say the starter needs to be replaced. Bad brush contact/broke brushes/ fouled up sucker.
I'll try to post a jpg of this BLUE connector later. I don't see how anybody could miss it. It is there or the car came with theft protection and there is a relay in its place.
Idiot lights coming on mean the probably the ignition switch is ok. Probably.
Again, the trail coil does NOT have to have its wiring disconnected. Just moved out of the way so you can see the BRIGHT BLUE connector half.
Remove that blue connector with the one jumper wire in it and set it aside. Then GET a piece of electrical wire that will reach from the positive post of the battery to the BLACK/WHITE wire in the connector on the HARNESS side of the Blue connector half you just removed. IF you put one end of the piece of wire in the socket where there is a Black/White wire and then touch the other end of the wire to the positive post of the battery, the starter should turn over. The key does not have to be on. The shifter does have to be in neutral.
IF the starter does turn over, then the problem is in the Interlock switch or the ignition switch, most likely.
IF you had a meter, and set it on dcvolts with the positive lead in the socket with the black/white wire and the negative on a good ground, you should read approx 12v when you go to START with the key and have the clutch pedal depressed.
If you don't, then what I'd do is find the clutch interlock switch at the very top of the clutch pedal and trace its harness til you find its plug. Then I'd jumper that plug on the harness side with a piece of wire to simulate the clutch pedal being in and go to START with the ignition switch. IF the starter runs, then the interlock switch might be bad.
About the hammer: If I heard a click at the starter when I had the jumper b/t the batt positive post and the black/white wire in the connector, then I'd suspect the starter solenoid/starter. I'd get under the car with it in neutral and jumper a piece of wire b/t the very small blade on the starter solenoid and the large hot wire. If the starter clicked again, I'd take the hammer and smack the starter on its body a couple of times and then try to jumper b/t the small blade on the starter solenoid and the large hot wire of the solenoid. IF the starter now turns, I'd say the starter needs to be replaced. Bad brush contact/broke brushes/ fouled up sucker.
I'll try to post a jpg of this BLUE connector later. I don't see how anybody could miss it. It is there or the car came with theft protection and there is a relay in its place.
Idiot lights coming on mean the probably the ignition switch is ok. Probably.
Again, the trail coil does NOT have to have its wiring disconnected. Just moved out of the way so you can see the BRIGHT BLUE connector half.
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