j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi Guys,
My car has been extremely reliable for the bast 13 years. Today it refused to restart after a normal 3 mile run to grocery store.
I turn ignition key, and I get no starter motor action, no click,click,click. I hear a very soft click while I hold the key to the start position. I tried jumping with both jump box and jumper cables from a running car. Same thing. My battery was fully charged and the voltage gauge read 13.5 on the ride to the store. Full tank of gas.
A similar event occurred a few days ago, but resolved immediately, when I turned the key again.
Recent motor mounts and OPG, so I had the starter out. The car has started and run fine since that job though. The starter is a Bosch rebuilt about 5 years old.
It's an automatic, so I don't know if I can bump start it.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

skpyle

Turn the key to 'RUN', jump the jump post to the yellow starter solenoid wire on the 14-pin connector. That will bypass all the key switch/etc...wiring to the starter. See if the starter will roll over.

Majestic Moose

Sounds like the classic ignition switch going bad. Try wiggling the key, maybe tap on the starter relay?

jeff spahn

Damn, beat me to it.

FredR

Forget about bump starting an automatic. Wiggling the key about may help the problem if the switch has failed. If you can get a jumper cable between the hot post and terminal 14 of the 14 pin connector [as suggested by Seth] that might just do the trick. Pin 14 is the one at the opposite end of where the cables enter plug and is on the right hand side when viewed from above looking rear to front

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks, guys. My supercharger pipe makes getting at the 14-pin a problem. Anywhere on the central electric panel to jump? Starter relay? I'm suspecting a bad starter. I'm going back over to the store a little later and if not successful will tow home.
Thanks again,
Dave

wopfe

I think the ignition switch, had the same problem that never returned after putting in a new switch...

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

It certainly could be ignition switch. I hope it is, because I can bypass it.
Thanks,
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I tried jumping 30 to 87 on the starter relay, and I got the same soft click, maybe the solenoid? I'm thinking starter. Tow hook fit pretty well.
Calling tow truck to bring home.
Thanks,
Dave

GregBBRD

Have someone hold the key in the start position, while you hit the starter with a hammer.....world renowned failure mode for Bosch starters.

Good luck getting one of the "new" Bosch rebuilt starters to fit and getting the wiring hooked up!

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks guys, again. I got the car towed home, and it's still no-start.
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Hi Greg,
Did I read somewhere that you prefer mini starter's over rebuilt Bosch?
Thanks,
Dave

dr bob

Dave --

Double-check that the leads on the starter are clean and tight. More than a few no-crank episodes can be traced to a loose nut, either on the solenoid or immediately behind the big wheel. It's easy enough to either forget to tighten something, or have a nut work loose as we jostle wires around during final assembly.

Normally I'd also recommend putting the gear selector in neutral, but you should have eliminated the neutral safety switch when you bypassed the starter safety relay. Note that 30 -> 87 in the starter safety relay socket doesn't bypass the ignition switch completely, it just eliminates the neutral safety switch as a possible interrupt. The 87 contact in the socket goes to the 14-pin and on to the solenoid, so connecting battery voltage to that 87 contact is needed to bypass the ignition switch completely to crank. 30 in the socket is connected to 50 (starter) from the ignition switch. 87 in the socket is connected to what's normally the 50 circuit to the starter solenoid.

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Thanks, Bob. I'll try applying 12V to the 87 terminal of the starter relay. If that does nothing then I'll lift the car and check connections at the starter. I could easily have forgotten to tighten something. As an end solution I was looking at the IMI starter for 928.
Dave

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I just put 12V to 87 socket of the starter relay (jump pack ground cable to chassis ground), and still nothing. Tonite or tomorrow I will raise the car and inspect my connections.
Thanks,
Dave