No power to the starter. What is wrong?

[fastboatman29212]

I noticed a few clicks with no crank motor when I first tried to start my 1994 GTX this season. Next few tries she started right up, so I thought it may have been some moisture. Anyway, problem seemed to disappear and I could not get it to repeat the symptoms. Ran it on the lake. Of course, that is when she did it again and would not start at all.
Back at the house, more clicking sounds but no turning of the starter.

Then I reached down to feel if the starter was warm. I got a very powerful shock to my hand from the starter - EVEN though I was NOT pressing the ignition.

After that, no more clicking sound. Nothing. And yes, the starter was very warm, even HOT.

New starter installed now. But still nothing. No clicks. No cranking of the starter. Nothing. The fuel gauge needle does come on because I see the needle move when I press the start button.

Starter pulled and tests fine at the auto store.

I inspected the electrical box. No fuses burnt. I found only 2, a 15 and a 5 amp.

My guess is that this may be bad solenoid, but it seems odd that it would go out just like that. I am wondering if something else may have gotten fried when I got the big shock to my hand. It seemed like a lot of current cause it stung for a few minutes.

Any suggestions?:ack:

 

[kustomkarl]

Be sure the wires from the battery are clean and have a good connection. The battery should have a full charge. Follow the ground wire from the battery to the starter area and be sure it has a good connection. You can jump across the solenoid relay to see if the starter is working ok. The 15 amp fuse is for the charge system to the battery and 5 amp to the Mpem power unit. It is possible the solenoid relay for the starter is bad as it is what allows power to go tho the starter when it is activated.

Karl

 

[rksnow1]

Hi, I have a 1990 SP and have a similar problem. I just submerged the PWC unfortunately when a coolant line broke and have the same problem, selinoid clicks but starter didtnt turn over, thought the battery, starter, or selinoid went from the water, but tested both and are fine. I sprayed some water dry in the engine compartment and starter and will try tomorrow agin. if you find out please post as I am running out of things to try

 

[kustomkarl]

Hi, I have a 1990 SP and have a similar problem. I just submerged the PWC unfortunately when a coolant line broke and have the same problem, selinoid clicks but starter didtnt turn over, thought the battery, starter, or selinoid went from the water, but tested both and are fine. I sprayed some water dry in the engine compartment and starter and will try tomorrow agin. if you find out please post as I am running out of things to try

I think you need to check your wire connections. If the starter solenoid is clicking it isn't getting enough power to activate the starter. Sometimes it could be a bad battery too as it might have a full 12 volts but has a bad cell or 2 and doesn't have enough AMPS to turn over the starter. Unless the battery is fairly new have it Load tested at like Auto Zone for free. It could be also that the cable ends are corroded and causing a poor connection. If all looks good and has a clean connection, cut the ends off and replace the ends with new ones. To see if the power is passing do as I mentioned in the above post and jump across the starter relay. Use a 12-14 guage insulated wire to do the jump.


Karl

 

[fastboatman29212]

Looks like a bad solenoid.

As I said earlier, the old starter (the one that gave me a shock) was bad. New one installed but won't crank. New problem developed, no click from the solenoid.

Tested the solenoid per my manual instructions and it tests bad. Will take solenoid to dealer tomorrow and have them double check with a bench test. Then I will install a new solenoid and hopefully be back up and running.

Anything else I should check while I have the electrical box open?

 

[kinder]

check all wiring and battery

 

[fastboatman29212]

Problem solved

Once again I am humbled. First of all, the battery was brand new, less than 3 days old when my starter failed. Remember I got shocked in the hand when I reached down to feel if the starter was warm?

So I put in a new starter. But it wouldn't crank and the solenoid didn't click.

I tested the battery (but not under any load) and it showed just over 12 volts.

Pulled the solenoid and tested it with the "new battery" but it tseted bad, (or so I thought).

Took the solenoid to the dealer and let them bench test it, IT WAS FINE!:ack:

Put everything back together and used another battery and she now starts and runs fine.:hurray::hurray:

Problem must have been that the "new battery" didn't have a full charge when installed OR maybe the battery discharged itself while installed when the bad starter was in. All I know is that I got one heck of a shock.:hat:

 

[kustomkarl]

Glad you got it running. It's hard to diagnose your problem when components that are good really aren't.

Karl