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Replaced starter - now won't start

29K views 54 replies 12 participants last post by  jpdocdave 
#1 ·
Long story short: I was pretty sure my starter was going bad (wouldn't start in a parking lot), so I replaced it (this is one of the few replacements I've done on my jeep before, so I'm pretty sure I did it right). In the week between my deciding it was going bad, and my replacing it, it started a couple times.

After I replaced the starter and hooked the neg batt terminal back up, it started up once. Started beautifully that time. I drove five blocks, parked it for an hour or two, and now it won't start at all. Battery meter reads around 12 V, lights and stereo come on, and I get the same dead hum that I got when the old starter first failed me.

Any ideas?
 
#45 ·
new developments:

Got the multimeter out, tested power from solenoid to starter motor while cranking. Got .25 Volt, starter didn't work. Somebody mentioned before that if I get power to the motor from the solenoid while turning the key, and it still doesn't work, it's definitely a bad starter. So I took it off and exchanged it at schucks.

Put new one on, now I'm having the same problem with it. I get power to the motor from the solenoid (about .5 Volt this time), and now there's a clicking sound from the starter when someone tries to crank (still get a brief, deep, hum from somewhere while crankingl; the click, which comes from the starter specifically, is new), but it won't turn over.

So I'm thinking the odds against getting two bad starters in a row should be pretty high . . . but then again it's Schucks. But before I pull this one off and take it back too, can anyone think of any other reason I'd get power through the solenoid-to-motor cord when cranking, but it still wouldn't fire?
 
#46 ·
Try jump starting it, Sounds like low battery amperage to me.

I drove a wrecker for AAA for three years. Clicking is usually from not enough juice!

Hook up the cables, & let it charge up for at least 10-15 minutes before trying it.

Make sure there is no other drain on the battery, IE: doors closed, lights off, & no radio!
 
#50 ·
wow, two pages just to get a starter going and still no idea. Put parking brake on, chock wheel, and out of gear. Disconnect S terminal at starter. using a screwdriver jump the Batt and S terminals. if its still doing nothing your problem is battery, battery cable,or grounds. If engine cranks your problem is im S-wire or ignition switch.

also look a few posts up what yjkpower posted about jumper cables.
 
#52 ·
Lights don't dim when I crank. Some people have recommended whacking the clicking solenoid with a hammer, then starting?

Heading out today; looking forward to a careful reading of new posts, and additional troubleshooting tonight ;-)
 
#54 ·
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Cranking and firing now.

Second starter was all good. Got a second pair of eyes under the hood today, and found a loose pair of wires right at the pos battery terminal.

All that time I spent checking connections at the starter, and on the route from the batt to the starter - with both the bad starter and the good one I got yesterday - and it turned out to be that simple. Starts great now (I shouldn't jinx myself . . . started great . . . I'm gonna go torque the bolts right now and see if it starts a second time :) ).

I just want to give a big fat thank you to everyone who commented with advice and support. Sucks not to know what's up with your car when it's not working, but thanks to this forum, I know a lot more about my car now than I did a few days ago.
 
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