Can't get 'er to turn over. What next?

ions82 · 03-14-2010, 01:50 AM

Well, the '96 I bought several months ago has never seemed to be all that great at starting. Once the engine turns over a couple times, it's starts right up. However, it clearly wasn't turning over as quickly as it should've.

Anyway, I put a couple new batteries in it (warranty from Wally-World). That didn't help. After reading through numerous posts that talked about problematic starters, I pulled mine off and found it to be full of all sorts of crud. I cleaned it all out, turned the commutator on my lathe, and installed new/upgraded contacts and plunger. I had the starter tested, and it checked out just fine. Once I put it back in, I can't even get it to turn over!

I then replaced all the battery and wire terminals as the originals were cracked and corroded. I am rather particular about wiring, so I made sure to do a good job. After getting all of that done, it STILL won't do anything. The only things left to check are the ground on the engine block and the wire running to the ignition. Am I forgetting something obvious? If anyone has any pointers or knows what I should be looking, please post! Thank you for the help and input.

RPegram · 03-14-2010, 06:50 AM

Have you tried jumping across starter terminals? Go from big with to little wire and see if it turns over then. If it does, then problem inside truck, if it doesn't, then problem with starter. If it doesn't turn over, also verify voltage on big terminal at starter and that you don't lose voltage when starter is trying to engage.

ions82 · 03-14-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPegram

Have you tried jumping across starter terminals? Go from big with to little wire and see if it turns over then. If it does, then problem inside truck, if it doesn't, then problem with starter. If it doesn't turn over, also verify voltage on big terminal at starter and that you don't lose voltage when starter is trying to engage.

Thank you for the input. If I understand it correctly, the small terminal is provided with ground when the ignition is moved to the start position. When I was working on the starter, it looked as though the one side of the solenoid coil was tied to battery power, and the other side was soldered to the small terminal/post. Wouldn't the correct way to check that be to put that small terminal to ground? I'll try it and see what happens.

Also, I'll see what kind of voltage I'm getting at the starter. Whatever it was getting when it WAS starting certainly didn't sound like enough. I had the starter tested (at a shop the specializes) after I rebuilt it, and it was said to be running great. I'll poke around with the multimeter and see if I can figure anything out. Are ignition switches an expensive pain to replace? I once had a Mitsubishi van in which I installed a momentary switch/button that would activate the starter solenoid. Got the job done!

illflem · 03-14-2010, 12:09 PM

Do as RP said before messing with a meter, I use a screwdriver to short between the big and small connectors, they are both positive.
A meter will only tell you voltage, not if you're getting enough amps to the starter.
Key switch is about $30 at Napa.
Instructions> Ignition Switch Replacement

snowking89 · 03-14-2010, 02:39 PM

sounds like a starter.... see if you have power at the little wire when u turn the key to crank.... if you do then its either a starter or a bad bettery connection i will say this a few weeks ago i was having problems with the truck spinning over slower than normal so when i did a little digging i notticed that the factory ground to the block on the ds motor mount was no good... put a new ground cable in it and spinns super fast....