patrickstar

so this has been an ongoing problem. it all started when my car wouldnt start. i changed the alternator and the battery. worked fine. then later my car wouldnt start anymore. i tapped the starter and it worked fine. so i thought my starter was going out. i changed the starter and it still happens. itll turn on sometimes and sometimes it wont. sometimes i gotta wait like 15 minutes then out of no where itll start.

so today i tried to start her up. nothing. waited. nothing. i had jump cables so i jumped my car with my friend and it started right up. could it be the battery again? a month ago i got my battery and alt. checked, they were fine. my lights and accesory lights dont dim. so what could be wrong? my friend also mentioned it could be my distributor? hmm anyone please?

D16SiHatch

your dizzy has nothing to do with the starter functioning

i think the starting with jumper cables only thing is most likely coincidence. test your ignition switch, it's probably shorting out.

http://mycomputerninja.com/~jon/IgnitionSwitch.html

dseriesdemon

Make sure your battery terminals aren't garbage either... Sometimes either a loose or corroded connection will cause that problem. Seems quirky, but it happens more then you think...

patrickstar

hmm my battery terminals do look ugly. a lot of corrosion. im gonna buy some tomroow. i hope that is the problem.

and i dont think it was coincidence. this happened twice to me. wouldnt start. got someone to jump me, started right away. oh and thanks for the link/diagram.

anyone else have ideas!? i just dont wanna end up buying things that don't need replacing. this ongoing problem gives me thoughts of trading my car. dont know if i want that.

phoenix_iii

Having good/excellent grounds in your system is not a waste of money, so don't feel bad if it doesn't fix the problem (chance is that it will).

patrickstar

that's true. thanks phoenix, let's hope it is just the terminals. well im gonna go buy a new negative cable and terminal.

dseriesdemon

you don't even have to buy new terminals if the wires aren't split or torn. take some arm and hammer with water on a toothbrush and scrub the terminals clean. the corrosion will come right off.

patrickstar

hmm problem solved. i had a bad ground wire. that **** was split and torn. replaced em, and starts up healthy. i can tell the difference. thanks guys

patrickstar

damnittt!!!! ok problem is back. i only changed the ground wire. the positive terminal i didnt change. that would cause it not to start too right? lol i think this is obvious. but anything else i should check for? i want this thing solved!!!!

D16SiHatch

did you ever check the ignition switch like i said..

CRX Toad

are you sure that the wire going down to the starter is on properly? And everytime you jump it you move it just right so it will start. Are the cables junked up and you can tell and they will not conduct.

patrickstar

i would check the ignition, but i just dont understand how to check for continuity and dont understand the table. sorry. do i need a device or something?

oh and toad, yes i checked that the wire going down to the starter is right. i will check again tomorow. and what did you mean "And everytime you jump it you move it just right so it will start."

D16SiHatch

he's saying that is it possible that when you are jumping the car you were moving the wires around under the bay in such a way that it got a connection at say the starter signal wire, long enough to allow the car to start.

an easier albeit not as thorough way to test the ignition switch is to use your multimeter or test light and connect it to the signal wire at the starter. while the car is having one of its fits see if the signal wire registers +12v everytime you turn the key to crank. if you see +12v everytime, but the starter only engages on occasion, then the reman starter you received is bad. if with your test light you don't see +12v every time you turn the ign to crank, then the ignition switch is most likely your culprit.

patrickstar

oooh ok

signal wire as in the wire that goes from the positive terminal to the starter?

Bush-15

If it's a standard you might check your clutch switch. I had problems with mine being loose. and causing intermitent starting problems.

jhammond_82

iTrader: (1)

i've actually seen the inside of battery cables corrode already. you can't see them untill after you replace it, and cut it down the middle.

D16SiHatch

nope. that wire should always have power, seeing as how it's always connected to the battery.

what you want to test is the signal wire. when ignition is in the crank pos. this is what flips the high current relay within the starter and allows the power from the battery to flow through, pop out the bendix, and spin the starter motor. it's a small wire with a female spade connector on the end. it's located here

4drEF

I fail to see why you would want to check the ignition switch or anything else at this point.
With corroded wires at the battery it's where you need to start.
Get a new + cable before anything else THEN go ahead with all the other checks.

D16SiHatch

i agree. i assumed by this point in time we could rule out the battery cables as an issue since it was mentioned to him eighteen lightyears ago to check those.

hiramclarketx08

i cant start a thread since i just opened an account but i need advice asap i have dat same problem its a 93 civic i turned it off n left it there for 30 min n da car did not wanna start jumped started it and turned on ran it turned it off and wen i went back to start it it didnt start again my light dimmed out so i thought at first it wuz da alternator changed it and also changed da battery and still no start da only thing i hear now is dat my main relay clicks like crazy plz need help