So for the past 6 Months my 93 Del sol Si w/ a JDM D16A has randomly not wanted to start. It can go for weeks at a time starting in the 1st or 2nd try every time. Then 10 minutes later i will just get a clunk from the starter solenoid, the engine can be hot or cold its random. Sometimes 30x tries will yield nothing.

Only things that seem to make it worse are, rain/moisture, and strangely
enough parking on a hill. (though this just maybe in my head)

Fuel pump always primes

Hitting starter with hammer has no effect

Battery is new and batt Voltage is at 12.85V

Grounds are freshly cleaned and resistance at all grounds is 1.5 Ohms

Jumping the starter solenoid from the battery will not turn the car over, but will make the solenoid clunk. (When its acting up)

The car will turn over and start eventually if you try enough and runs fine (Minus a lumpy idle and bad MPG atm)

Everything is normal when going to start the car, untill when you turn the key to the cranking position. You just hear the solenoid clunk.

So my question is, is the starter the problem? Are there other tests i can do? I have a multimeter and an array of tools. I do not have a load tester.

 

If your G3 ground and starter motor cable connections are clean and tight on both ends, then the starter is probably toast.

 

Im sorry but what do you mean by G3 ground? I ordered a "Reman" starter yesterday and will hopefully install it tomorrow. Ile report back if that solves the problem.

P.S. i was going to rebuild my current one with Toyota parts but i instead spend the extra 15$ and got a warranty.

 

G3 is the transmission to chassis ground.

 

TY and yes i cleaned it up as-well as i could. Just to be sure I will make a new one out of some 1g power wire when i install the starter.

 

Did you also test the power cable to the starter motor?

 

No not with a multimeter, i was under the impression if i jumped the starter from the battery and it still didn't crank, it pointed to the starter because new wiring didn't work either.

If there is a multimeter test i can do, i am more than willing. Im still slowly learning how to use it.

 

Did you jump both the solenoid and motor, or only the solenoid?

 

Positive battery terminal, to the solenoid wire (the one that just pulls out). I followed a how to i found here on H-T. The result was just a loud click, the DIY said that would make it turn over.

 

Your test did not rule out an issue with the starter motor cable. The starter must receive voltage to both the starter motor and solenoid to crank the engine.

Next time try this --> Disconnect both the starter motor cable and solenoid wire from the starter. Jump (+) battery to the starter motor using a battery jumper cable. Next jump (+) battery with a separate wire to the solenoid. Does the starter crank every time you jump voltage to the solenoid?

 

So all i did was make sure that the solenoid worked?.. Damn DIY... Ok thank you i will try that today.

 

Yes, if you assume hearing the click is equivalent to "worked".

 

It was ment as a question. The click is what i was listening for correct? Im not trying to assume anything just going off the information i have available.

 

The click told you that the solenoid received voltage.

 

Ok thank you for clearing that up. One more thing when doing the test you mentioned, i run one wire to the solenoid wire and the other to where power normally runs to correct?

P.S. thank you for all the help. Much appreciated especially with all the newbs coming and shitt'n up the 92-00 Civic forum. You got your hands full.

 

Yes, correct. Be sure to use jumper cables for the starter motor connection. You need the heavy gauge wire to handle the high current.

 

Jump the solenoid using the 1 gauge cable at the starter.
You could use a 14 gauge wire or 16 gauge. Doesnt have to be jumper cables.

If you hear a click that alone tells you you have voltage at the starter and solenoid.


Dont make this harder than it has to be ron

 

Don't act like a dork and give bad tech advice.

 

Woah now shots fired....

I did RonJ's test today and the result was a consistently starting Delsol and a consistently happy me. I used a jumper cable from the positive battery to the starter, and some 1g stereo power wire clamped under the jumper cable for the solenoid (I couldnt fit 2 jumper cables). So i went ahead and did a few things \/


1. Replaced positive battery terminal with a new brass one. I cleaned up the wire ends and brushed them free of dirt and np2-c2 before i put on the new end.

2. Sanded the starter power connection, and all hardware.

3. Cleaned the solenoid connection with Qtips and alchohol.

4. Crimped the solenoid wire tighter.

And now it will start first try every time.
Thank you both of you for your help, I will update if the problem returns

 

 

Well that lasted half a day....

It works much better than before but the problems back to intermittent. I tore it back down and your jumper test still works every time.

Whats next? Replace the positive battery cable? Im running out of ideas, im trying to troubleshoot the clutch safety switch now.

 

What happens if you remove starter motor cable and then connect one end of the jumper cable to the starter motor terminal and the other to the starter terminal in the hood fuse box?

 

You mean to were the other positive battery lead goes?

 

T1

 

You need a multimeter bra

Check ground path from starter body to batt neg

Check voltage from batt to solenoid positive input wire.

You might have a bad key switch