Touge Tuning

K so ive read that with a starter that in the winter it makes it tougher for it to turn the engine over because the oil is thick and the battery isnt as strong in the cold. Now here is my problem. The starter will not turn the engine at all, it just clicks and clicks. Now im starting to think the copper contacts just have a weak connection which is causing there not to be enough juice to spin the motor. The reason i believe this is because it will pop out and spin fine on a bench test with no load on the motor but if i put it in the car it will not work. I know the battery is charged etc so that rules out that. I have performed every test i could find on the starter and cant figure out why it wont work in the car.

Does it sound reasonable to think that it works out of the car because of no load but doesnt have enough juice to turn the engine over?

old man neri

A few things.

-What oil are you running right now? It should be 5W30 in this weather.
-What is the condition of your grounds, contacts, and other major wires
-A fully charged battery can still be a shot battery. Batteries once they get old just won't deliver as many amps. Go to Canadian Tire and have them test the sucker.

Clean all your contacts, battery posts, and make sure all the major wires (those thick suckers) are in good condition.

SteveoBA8

clicks and clicks= solenoid

Touge Tuning

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old man neri &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A few things.

-What oil are you running right now? It should be 5W30 in this weather.
I am running 5W30 so that should be fine
-What is the condition of your grounds, contacts, and other major wires
grounds are good, upgraded all the grounds to 1/0 a long time ago, all other wires are in good condition
-A fully charged battery can still be a shot battery. Batteries once they get old just won't deliver as many amps. Go to Canadian Tire and have them test the sucker. well the battery is brand new, not even a week old and has been fully charged

Clean all your contacts, battery posts, and make sure all the major wires (those thick suckers) are in good condition.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Touge Tuning

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SteveoBA8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">clicks and clicks= solenoid </TD></TR></TABLE>

solenoid on the starter? I did the test for continuity in the solenoid and it tested out fine?

swatteamtimmah

if the starter is clicking its more then likely a bad battery or a bad ground...just had the same problem...went and purchased a new battery, problem was fixed.

old man neri

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SteveoBA8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">clicks and clicks= solenoid </TD></TR></TABLE>

It could very well be the starter. I am not dismissing that. But I have also heard click click with a bad battery. My suggestions were just easier things to check.

Touge Tuning

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by swatteamtimmah &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the starter is clicking its more then likely a bad battery or a bad ground...just had the same problem...went and purchased a new battery, problem was fixed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well battery is good and i changed the tranny ground and it made no difference. I dont think its anything to do with the electrical because this only occured after my other battery died (whole different story) and i was frustrated with the car being dead and cranked and cranked it and i figured i burnt out the starter but its testing fine outside the car which is leading me to believe there is a shitty connection (broken solder joint) or something like that.

Touge Tuning

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old man neri &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It could very well be the starter. I am not dismissing that. But I have also heard click click with a bad battery. My suggestions were just easier things to check.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no i agree if i hear the click click i usually think bad battery or poorly charged system myself. The reason i dont think its that is the car acts/sounds totally different from when i had a dead battery to now trying to start it. Instead of sounding weak/quiet etc it sounds very strong/loud which is leading me to believe something inside is messed.

old man neri

could be the starter. You can probably buy a reman for not to much with a core trade in. Might be the thingy (I forget what it's called, the bend-x or something) not meshing in the flywheel too well. I am not a starter pro. Bump for someone else's suggestions.

Touge Tuning

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old man neri &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could be the starter. You can probably buy a reman for not to much with a core trade in. Might be the thingy (I forget what it's called, the bend-x or something) not meshing in the flywheel too well. I am not a starter pro. Bump for someone else's suggestions.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah actually im hoping its the starter i just dont wanna go and get one install it and turns out to not be the issue so im doing my best to rule out anything other than internal issue on the starter.

The starter gear looks fine and the flywheel doesnt have missing teeth so it should be fine i think .

Hopefully I can get this resolved ASAP

Touge Tuning

Anyone have any ideas?

DARKB20

I'm have the same issue. This is the third starter that has got bad with this motor in the past 5 months. I have a b20/vtec (11.5 cr) 231whp on dyno-jet. Do I need a different starter?? The grounds look ok...