Help diagnosing starter issue
#1
Help diagnosing starter issue
Long story short, my initial plans of replacing exhaust gaskets turned into rebuilding the cylinder head on my evo. With the help of my good buddy Talha, we got the head back on. I buttoned up the rest of the car and went to start it yesterday. Plugged the battery in, turned the key, got nothing. No clicking, just nothing. I figured the battery was dead since it was sitting in the cold unused for about a month. Had it charged at the local auto parts store and picked it up today. Went to put it back in the car and tried again, same thing. Nothing. I noticed the thermostat housing was leaking coolant (just filled it up yesterday) and some of it got on the positive post of the starter. I'm wondering if that shorted it out or something? In the meantime, I unbolted the thermostat housing and let the coolant drain. I'll come back another day to put on a new gasket and a new thermostat and see if it still leaks.
But as far as the starter, I'm not sure how to go about diagnosing the issue. Hence my post. What do you guys think?
But as far as the starter, I'm not sure how to go about diagnosing the issue. Hence my post. What do you guys think?
#3
Evolved Member
Using a test light, check if the battery cable is hot at the starter. Then unplug and check if the control wire is hot when the ignition switch is turned to start.
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#8
Evolved Member
A starter will pull as much current as it needs. Those amps need to get back to the battery. A flaky cable needs to be replaced whether the starter is bad or not. Also, make sure any grounds that might have been disconnected for the head job got reattached. People have burned up the engine loom due to a disconnected ground.
#10
I'm absolutely replacing the negative battery - ground cable regardless. I'll double check and go through the wiring to make sure grounds are attached, but I think I was pretty thorough. I've done countless engine / head builds on DSMs, but this is my first evo so it's possible I overlooked something. Plus I removed the air conditioning and emissions equipment while everything was apart. I noticed that two plugs on the harness are not connected, and I'm confident one was for the a/c, the other for emissions.
#11
Red post gets about 8-9v which I attribute to the bad ground cable that I will replace. The other post gets 0v even when key is turned. Looks like the ignition switch is bad. Now that I think of it, it's always given me a little bit of trouble as I had to turn the key in just the right way for it to start.
#12
Evolved Member
iTrader: (11)
Red post gets about 8-9v which I attribute to the bad ground cable that I will replace. The other post gets 0v even when key is turned. Looks like the ignition switch is bad. Now that I think of it, it's always given me a little bit of trouble as I had to turn the key in just the right way for it to start.
Jump 12V through a jumper wire to the post that has 0v when the key is turned. If the key is in the run position the engine should crank.
The is a scannerdanner video of this on a dodge neon (I believe)
search youtube
#15
Evolved Member
iTrader: (46)
Sounds like you got it figured out! Ive been having a pesky starting issue all year too. Mine gets power everywhere when needed. Every once in awhile though, the starter wont turn. I get the click of the solenoid, fuel pump runs, but the starter wont turn. The starter can be jumped with a screwdriver everytime and start.
Ive swapped out the ignition switch with a buddies and got the same thing, this is on my 2nd starter as well and still have a no start every once in awhile.
Ive swapped out the ignition switch with a buddies and got the same thing, this is on my 2nd starter as well and still have a no start every once in awhile.