Just finished replacing the clutch in car due to springs popping out of the old clutch disc. I had the fly wheel resurfaced and used an exedy kit. Get the car fully assembled and now the car wont start. I had the starter tested and its fine. What happens when I crank the car is a loud chattering like its got a dead battery. Have tried jump starting the car but it refuses to start. Nothing is disconnected or hanging freely I made sure all the harnesses are connected. So now Im asking the gurus for a little bit of help. The car ran fine before the clutch was replaced.

 

You probably have a bad connection on the trans grounding strap. Or you forgot about it.

 

I will try sanding the connection. Its on there tight but its possible it needs some help from sitting a week.

 

Check the starter wire.

 

If u left the transmission ground off or poor connection I believe the cooling fan comes on when u turn the ignition to start. If the starter wire is disconnected at the solenoid you won't here anything. And if ur hearing just one click it could be that the clutch is installed improperly and binding in which case you could just place it in first and push it to see if it rolls in gear.

 

It won't roll in 1st without considerable resistance anyway. You can park a car on a hill in 1st. 5th would be a better choice.

 

It doesnt roll in gear, so Im guessing somehow I did not assemble this correctly I used the alignment tool that came with it. Everything slid together so I figured I was properly in alignment. I guess I have to take it all apart again.

 

Lemme try 5th and see if that makes a difference

 

Ok I can push it forwards in 5th gear. I had originally tried it in 1st and Reverse, but as you say 1st is very tough it would only be true as well for R since its its just 1st gear spinning the opposite way.

 

Try roll starting it. Get some speed....have the key in the RUN position....dump the clutch in 1st or 2nd.

Maybe you dropped the starter while you did the install and now its busted.

You can try bypassing the trans ground:
-Hook up a jumper cable to a trans housing bolt. (Pick a color...say...the black wire)
-hook the other end to battery GROUND. (Same color wire as trans housing).
-Turn the key and see if it starts.

If that works, you don't have a good ground connection. You can test this with a DVOM...but its not nearly as fun.

 

Ok so I cleaned the trans grounds. Im getting battery voltage from starter cord from battery to to transmission ground. If I put the car in 5th and push it slightly, I can watch the belt on the power steering pump spin. I had the starter tested at advance auto yesterday and it fired right off. I stuck the car on a battery tender in the mean time because its possible it was a low battery even though I tried jumpstarting it with another vehicle and getting similar results. What I hear is the car trying to make it start for a brief second before it begings chattering. If need be I can put up a movie with the sound.

 

You must've left that car dead for a while. Continue with the charge until its around 12v and than try again.

 

Voltage drop test on the feed and ground side of the starter circuit. Saves you from removing components to have them tested at a parts store.

 

It was simply a dead battery. For some reason jump starting did not help it, however when I stuck the tender on it for 6 hours, it now starts great. The battery was disconnected the entire time I did the work, so I have no idea how it drained to nothing other than its its pushing to close to 5 years of life on a gold Advance battery. Other than needing a small adjustment of the clutch pedal (Which I can do this weekend) the car runs and shifts good. I want to hand out thanks to the many members who had suggestions and were willing to walk me through possible solutions to my problem.