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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: catlin_cava on October 05, 2008, 02:05:18 pm
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I'm having a nasty problem with teh starter...I keep loosing power to the starter???why does this keep happening
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What do you mean by loosing power to the starter?
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when i turn the key over there is no power going to the starter?
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Have you checked for power at the starter or nothing happens when you turn the key?
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yes i check the power, and nothing happens when i turn the key
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start checking battery connections and grounds!
Duane
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I had a problem with the power wire to the starter from the battery. If you replace it you could rule that out. Also had a problem with the key switch where it wouldn't put power to the starter, could be that. My key switch went at about 150,000 or so. I have heard it is common. You might try getting out the test light and checking power at all the needed places. Have someone crank and you run the test light if need be. Will it start if you jump the seliniod?
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re did all the connections, i think once i get the starter rebuilt i'll check my connections
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yea the i can jump the starter, and it does start...then yesterday it started working by key...then stopped again
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sounds like the ignition switch
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double check your grounds.you need a larger guage wire to ground to the block from the battery
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I only read the first couple posts but i had an issue where i'd turn the key, here a loud "Clack" and nothing would happen, i'd keep the key turned... and then it would turn over after a bit. I replaced the wire and terminal with a thick lead one and cleaned the points and that fixed it until i got battery acid on it. that screwed with the connection. but a bigger wire and clean points should fix her up. Starters are pretty straight forward really. as long as they're getting LOTS of current they will turn. Maybe take it apart, clean the old grease off, put some clean stuff in there. Look for any burnt marks.
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I'd suggest you might want to narrow down the problem a bit before tearing things apart. The question is: is the starter getting a correct signal from the ignition switch and not responding ?
One way to troubleshoot is to hot-wire the starter:
- make sure the car is in neutral, parking brake on, wheels chocked
- locate the small spade terminal that plugs into the starter... it's next to the big bolt and lug to the main cable that goes directly to the battery.
- pull the wire off, leaving the terminal exposed
- confirm that the car is in neutral, parking brake on, wheels chocked
- using a short length of wire bridge between the big battery connection on the starter and the small terminal on the starter... the starter should engage and the engine should turn over (hence the reason for neutral, parking brake, etc :wink: ).
If the starter turns over properly the problem is likely upstream at the ignition switch or the wiring between the ignition switch and the starter... corrosion at the starter itself is a common problem
If the starter clicks but doesn't turn over the problem is the high-current feeds (power and ground) from the battery or the starter itself. Start by removing the two big battery terminals and then the big cable at the starter and the big ground connection to the transmission... carefully clean and sand all four reassemble, and try the bypass trick again. If this doesn't work the quickest thing is to pull the starter and take it to a shop for further testing / rebuilding.
If you do replace the starter be sure to replace the bushing in the transmission... instructions on one way are here (http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=28). Bosch in particular will void your warrenty if you don't replace the bushing... it's under a lot of duress (particularly on a diesel) and can easily cause your new starter to bind.
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Did you get it fixed yet? Just wondering.
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No, bought a rebuilt starter today put it on, on a push button start...it worked at first...no it doesn;t work anymore. it seems like the battery doesn;t have enought juice to start it and the altenator is fine because i can run the car and it keeps it charge, but it seems like the battery doesn;t charge...i think i'm going to sell it with all the extra parts...1500$ CDN
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Did you ever get your starter sorted out? Just saw your post.
I had a similar problem about a year ago...attaching a grounding wire from the starter to the battery ground fixed it till now.
Problem came back yesterday as soon as I loaded a rebored block in the bed of the truck...literally the truck wouldn't kick over at the machine shop. Checked the battery and it was good at 12 volts across the posts. Got a jump anyways and it turned right over. Won't turn over when I cross the 30 and 50 posts with a jump wire though on its own battery? Maybe the starter is worn out and binding?
Very strange...VW's.
Will clean all the contacts up and try again with an extra starter...if that doesn't work then maybe replace the transmission bushing too?
VW's
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If you're using a little gasser battery it definitely won't turn over consistently. If you compare starter sizes between say a ... dodge neon and any diesel the starter is at least 2X bigger on the diesel. You need loads of juice for it.
The battery only as big as it is because we need a mother of a starter to make that large compression quickly. Find a friend with a diesel truck and ask to use the battery off that to see if it starts better/consistently.
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Got a big over sized battery in there...but is it is on like month 65 of 75.
Wondering if it is charging low. There have been a couple of wiring issues lately. All at once the gas gauge and temp gauge when out, the hazard light relay started buzzing and the signals went out, and the alternator charging light went on very bright.
Thought it might be the voltage stabilizer on the back of the instrument panel, so I changed out the panel and the problems went away but the alternator light has gone dark.
VW's :?
Maybe the circuit for the alternator light is bad because the alternator checks out okay. If the alternator light circuit actually controls if the alternator charges the battery and the battery is under charged just enough that the starter won't turn (returning to the original subject).
But if you are reading this you understand :wink:
VW's :?
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Appears to have been a loose connection with the blue ground (?) out of the alternator harness to the alternator light. Seems like the alternator is a strange place for a ground to run...I've got alot to learn :wink: