So... I want outside in the tropical 28 degree weather yesterday morning and tried to start her up. Well... all that happened is the starter solenoid clicked in a very upset manner. So I went out and tapped on it a couple times with a wrench... nothing but more clicking. Tried to jump start her.... nothing but CLICK. replaced the soleniod... tried to start her... and she was blowing raspberries. So not only will she not start but she is mocking me. I'm getting the starter checked out in the morning just incase. So yeah... what am I forgetting to check here guys???
I agree. Make sure you check the connection where the cable goes into the terminal AND where the terminal goes onto the post. Most people just check the post connection. I suggest turning your headlights on. Most likely they will not come on while having this problem. Watch the headlights while messing with the cables. When you see them light up real bright you'll know you have located your problem.
Or try to start it with jumper cables... If that works you have a problem with your battery or the connection(s) to it.
Nasty cold and a weak battery allways turns into frozen finger tips and a frozen battery which is now no good for anything but a paper weight(wont even take a jump) and the frozen fingers are only good for dropping tools in the snow so you can find them come spring.The battery is no good,replace it.
Ok Mavman.... you are prolly right. I checked the starter, and its all good unda tha hood. Then hooked the terminal wires up to another car and jumped in my baby and turned the key and she cranked (it was a heavenly noise) then released and cranked again, and then tried a third time and she blew a raspberry. In theory though the reasobn could be that the car that was ghetto jumping it was running, and it couldnt start my car and run at the same time... (its a chevy and a POS). So in theory its a dead cell in the battery that was in the car. So now I need battery suggestions people... stock will work I guess... but I truely want more cold crank amps... any suggestions since I'm spending an arm and a leg to begin with... and remember its all stock and I dont want the smeel of toasted fuseable links following me...
Help me here, what's this mean,,,"" she blew a raspberry.""" Wall-mart has some good batteries, or your local auto store. As far as cca goes, there all going be pretty good for you, don't go cheapest but don't buy a big buck one. Clean all your connections real good!
its sounds like something is bouncing off the insides in the solenoid. Bad news.... new battery and it still wont work. But if I jump the battery straight to the starter side of the solenoid the ctarter cranks over... someone kill me.... it makes no sense anymore.... ideas guys?
If you can bypass the solenoid and get the car to start, then it is either a bad solenoid or dirty / faulty connections on the solenoid. It sounds to me like the solenoid is ok but the connections are poor. I thought I had a starter going out once, but this turned out to be the issue. Take every ring terminal off of the hot side of the solenoid and clean it with sandpaper. Put them back on and do the same thing to he starter wire at the solenoid.
Re-read post 4...did you check the terminals thoroughly? I mean by taking the cables all the way out of the terminals, cleaning them and putting them back in, making sure of tight connections.
ok guys... I cleaned all my wires. All the terminals. all the grounds that I could find. Still the same old problem. I can still directly jump battery to starter. But I cant go through the soleniod to crank her over. Added problem. last night I drove her to work to see it she would run ok and maybe I can still have a semi-daily driver while I trouble shoot.... well... it acted like the battery was dead and it was running off the alternator. But the battery is fine... it had more than enough power to start up this morning when I got off. And when I turn the key it acts kinda like the ignition switch is going out. the ALT light doesnt come on very bright. The seat belt buzzer will go off for like two second insted of forever like it seemed like ti used to. and sometimes it wont even make the solenoid click anymore... I dont understand any of this anymore
Could be the "starter switch" is going bad. Mine did nothing at all (no click, no nothing) when I turned the key. Sounds like yours is almost there. It is available at the local auto parts store. Cost is under $20. Not to bad to install either. Just undo the 4 nuts under the steering column. It will drop down enough to undo the 2 nuts holding the switch, to the top of the steering column. Unplug the switch & pop off the steel rod (comes with switch). Reverse procedure to install new one. Will take about 30 minutes if you've never done it before. Less if you have. Good luck.... Keep us posted....
