Car won't start. 12.5+ volts. Pump kicks on. Starter?
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Evolving Member
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From: Jacksonville, FL./Dixon, IL.
Car won't start. 12.5+ volts. Pump kicks on. Starter?
This car has been a pain on and off electrically since I bought it. I changed the battery. It worked good for a while. Then started again. Then stopped. Now it's doing it again. Car charges at 14.2 until it warms up a bit then its no less than 13.9 unless I use the windows then it will drop. I do have the battery in the trunk. Everything is solid connection wise with a killswitch and 2 gauge wire running to the engine bay. I even killed the battery and it wont start thinking maybe there is a draw. Nothing. It will start fine with a jump that's what's getting me.
So I am narrowing it down to the starter solenoid, the clutches, it not engaging the flywheel, the relays on the firewall or something similar.
Anybody have any thoughts?
So I am narrowing it down to the starter solenoid, the clutches, it not engaging the flywheel, the relays on the firewall or something similar.
Anybody have any thoughts?
Do you have an aftermarket alarm? The reason I ask is because I have a somewhat similar problem with mine also. Sometimes my car just doesn't want to start at all (doesn't even crank). Battery is fully charged and everything works fine. It went on for about half a year and the whole time I thought it was the relays, starter, etc. But, I recently noticed something by accident that seems to have helped me figure out the source of the problem. Apparently the previous owner of the car had installed the alarm himself, and the wiring is not the most beautiful or the best in the world. Lately, whenever my car acts up and doesn't want to crank, I just wiggle a certain wire by the driver's side kick panel that was spliced into for the alarm and it cranks and starts up right away. So I'm guessing that wire has to do with the starter kill or something related to it. This has worked every time so far.
I had similar issue, but it was predictable. When cold, starter would not crank fast enough to start engine on first couple tries which leads to the battery going dead... but with a jump (cables hooked up front) it started right up. Replaced stock battery with 1000/800 duralast and connected ground cable (from Taylor kit) to drivers side rear seat belt bolt, SCRAPE THE PAINT first... car starting great now.
If you had not scraped the paint down to bare metal where the ground is connected, do so and see how it works out... I've never HAD to actually do that to have successful grounds in the past but this one seems to have helped, car cranks over much faster now.
If you had not scraped the paint down to bare metal where the ground is connected, do so and see how it works out... I've never HAD to actually do that to have successful grounds in the past but this one seems to have helped, car cranks over much faster now.
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Evolving Member
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From: Jacksonville, FL./Dixon, IL.
Would the CAS not start the car until hooked up to higher than normal voltage? That's kind of why I wouldn't suspect it but I will look. I will also change the ground again and see if that helps. And if all else buy a monster battery with crazy CA.
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is it even cranking when it doesn't want to start. cranking slow???? do you hear the solenoid click as if its a dead battery. do you turn the key and nothing happens except maybe a small click?? please be more descriptive.
Starter circuit draws a huge amount of amperage so make sure those connections are quality and also look at the main power connection to the starter, that could be loose. You could also try unplugging you clutch switch, never saw one go bad but hey its possible.
Starter circuit draws a huge amount of amperage so make sure those connections are quality and also look at the main power connection to the starter, that could be loose. You could also try unplugging you clutch switch, never saw one go bad but hey its possible.
sounds like your starter isnt grounded well. this happened to my 94 supra, it would just CLICK and not start but would start fine once jumped. starter had ground but it wasnt good connection so it had insufficient power going to it. once i cleaned the connection thoroughly, all issue was resolved.
sounds like your starter isnt grounded well. this happened to my 94 supra, it would just CLICK and not start but would start fine once jumped. starter had ground but it wasnt good connection so it had insufficient power going to it. once i cleaned the connection thoroughly, all issue was resolved.
check all your grounds. clean them all to make better connections. make sure were it is grounded on all your grounds its not rusted to hell good luck man!
Thread Starter
Evolving Member
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From: Jacksonville, FL./Dixon, IL.
sounds like your starter isnt grounded well. this happened to my 94 supra, it would just CLICK and not start but would start fine once jumped. starter had ground but it wasnt good connection so it had insufficient power going to it. once i cleaned the connection thoroughly, all issue was resolved.
Now I don't want to bite my tongue but I am hoping for the best tomorrow morning. I'll keep this thread updated on the results.
Be sure to update this discussion. I am dealing with the same issue. I have verified that it isn't the battery, battery connections, starter, starter solenoid, starter switch in the steering column, or starter relay. Like you, occasionally I get nothing but fuel pumps running - no starter activity.
I also have an alarm system, so I'll have to consider that.
I didn't see anything wrong with the starter connections at a glance, but may have to go back and recheck.
I also have an alarm system, so I'll have to consider that.
I didn't see anything wrong with the starter connections at a glance, but may have to go back and recheck.







