starting problems

[mnstanggt]

ok last week i had to put in a new starter in my car. today i was driving around, car started fine 4 or 5 times then came home, an hour later i went to leave again it cranked maybe twice then nothing, now if i turn key i just hear one loud click
i checked and cleaned all my grounds, tried jump starting it still just one click
up to this point the new starter has worked perfect every start
any ideas?

 

[HISSIN50]

Was the old starter doing the same thing? If not, why was it replaced? Any chance the new starter went bad?

 

[mnstanggt]

thats what im thinking, the new starter is probably defective, the symptoms are very similar to the old starter, but the new one was great for a week really strong car turned over alot faster, the old one was weak turned really slow.

after i made my first post i went back out to the car and had someone turn the key with me under car, theres a loud click then i could here faint humming from the starter, im starting to wonder if my battery cables are bad internally, the guy that turned the key said the dash went dark and the clock went black when he turned key to start position.

sry for long post just trying to get as much info out as possible

 

[HISSIN50]

It could be insufficient load capacity from rotted cables like you noted. Or the starter is bad and creating a huge draw.

 

[Stevejr]

Funny th at this was brought up. I am havin a similar problem, 2 mornings in a row my wife went out turned the key and click but it kills the whole car. I just thought something was left on and the bat was dead jumped it off and sent her on her way. Same thing this morning click and the car was Dead it even killed the clock. So I went and got my multimeter checked bat and it wasnt dead. Car will start fine now any ideas?

 

[mnstanggt]

i checked my battery with a multimeter 12.7 volts, i know ill probably need a new battery after all these jump starts im sure i cooked it but i figure even with a bad battery a jump start kinda supersedes that, i switched around my relays in under hood fuse box and checked all fuses in car.
off hand does anyone know the length of the stock battery cables for a 95 gt?

 

[HISSIN50]

A jumper cable cable be used as a temporary starter cable (run in parallel with the OEM cable). If the issue immediately goes away (and comes back when the jumper is removed), then new cables are likely needed. Be careful regarding battery safety, sparks, explosions, etc.

You could do a drop test on your starter cable. If you're seeing less than about 9.5V at the starter while cranking, it probably will not turn over.

Good luck.

 

[toyman]

i checked my battery with a multimeter 12.7 volts, i know ill probably need a new battery after all these jump starts im sure i cooked it but i figure even with a bad battery a jump start kinda supersedes that, i switched around my relays in under hood fuse box and checked all fuses in car.
off hand does anyone know the length of the stock battery cables for a 95 gt?

Battery volts and cranking amps are two different things. How cold has it been in the mornings? A battery that cranks well at 60* may not crank at all at 25* if it's going south. And no, jump starting on a battery that's toast doesn't always work especially if you are drawing from another battery and not a charger with an engine start selector switch.

 

[mnstanggt]

i was out checking connections again this morning, i noticed with the key in the on position my battery gauge shows almost nothing, it was on a charger all night. tryed jumping it again, with jumpers on the gauge shows really good and my headlights and interior lights got way brighter, car still wouldnt turn over. could an internal short in the battery be cutting power when i hit the key?

 

[HISSIN50]

Take the battery in for a load test.
Get a digital meter if you don't have one. Harbor Freight has meters on sale for a few bucks all the time. The stock guages are useless for diagnostics.

Good luck.

 

[mnstanggt]

update new starter

well after everything it seems the new starter i had put in last week was defective, since i didn't install it the first time how hard is the install, was able to see bottom bolt but what about the top one.
oh and i did have to replace battery and all the cables seems the previous owner didnt do much at all to it except change oil and wash it alot lol

 

[HISSIN50]

How do you know it's the starter?

Is there any sort of warranty from the installer?

I use some extensions for the top fastener. Small hands help with the electrical connections.

 

[Bad2thebone]

if all you get is a loud click it could either be not getting enough power to turn the flywheel over or the starter is junk and the clicking your hearing is the solenoid switch trying to turn the starter. i would take off the starter and take it to your local parts store and have it tested. I work at advance auto parts. if it works off the vehicle then you know its something in your starting circuit(battery, bad connection, broke or corroded wires, etc.). Take a hammer and smack it a couple of times while someone turns it over and see if it will turn over.