Starter Issue - No Crank

[Tynan918]

'84 Monte Carlo SS...

My starter isn't cranking when I put the ignition switch in the crank position... It's how I start my car until I can afford another steering column.

I also have a bump starter button under the hood that isn't cranking the engine over... I used this to start my engine for months.

Only time I can get it to crank over and start the engine is if I jump it using a screwdriver, with the ignition switch in the on position.

I know it isn't the ignition switch because I have two of them, and 1 is brand new...same results with both.

The purple solenoid wire is getting power to it.

Used to start up just fine, until I over flooded the engine in the middle of traffic and continually kept trying to crank over the engine. My last attempt during that time, the starter continued to crank itself over on it's own for a good 30-45 seconds after I put the ignition switch back in the "OFF" position..

Had it towed home and replaced the oil and got the flooding to quit and carburetor under control...

Went to start it using the ignition switch and nothing happened...

Went to start it with the bump starter and nothing happened...

Jumped it with a screwdriver and it fired right up, but not with the bump starter or the ignition switch.

I don't trust to keep starting the engine like this as the starter may give out on me anywhere leaving me stuck and require another costly tow I can't afford...

My starter is good for a free replacement under warranty, and I'm thinking the solenoid gave out on it causing the issue I'm having now.

Anyone else think the same thing ?

Any other suggestions are considered. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tynan918]

Are you expecting a new starter or battery to fix the 6v drop between the ignition switch and starter solenoid?

They say first thing and most common cause of voltage drop is a bad ground connection...

What do you think of my ground connection on the engine block ? Looks good or corroded ?

 

[64nailhead]

I'll be back at page 100.

 

[Tynan918]

They say first thing and most common cause of voltage drop is a bad ground connection...

What do you think of my ground connection on the engine block ? Looks good or corroded ?View attachment 190022

This ground bolt was loose and didn't take any effort to break, I could have fingered it off...

It looks dirty so I'm going to clean it up and I the surface on the block, reconnect it, then try to start it again.

 

[g0thiac]

Are you expecting a new starter or battery to fix the 6v drop between the ignition switch and starter solenoid?

I'd say it could, provided the drop came from a malfunctioning electrical component in the starter also.

But if not, it's probably a connection that needs to be looked at in the mess of wiring possibly too.

 

[g0thiac]

This ground bolt was loose and didn't take any effort to break, I could have fingered it off...

It looks dirty so I'm going to clean it up and I the surface on the block, reconnect it, then try to start it again.
View attachment 190024View attachment 190025View attachment 190026

Clean that with a wire wheel or a bit of steel wool, thankfully it seems more dirty from grease than corrosion.

The other option if that doesn't fix the issue, is to take the starter out and use booster cables to test it. If you can get it to work over and over, then that will tell for sure if it's a wiring or starter that needs replacing lol.

 

[Tynan918]

Cleaned off the ground connection at the engine block and reconnected it... but still no crank...

 

[g0thiac]

Cleaned off the ground connection at the engine block and reconnected it... but still no crank...
View attachment 190051

Disconnect your battery and the starter out of the car, and test it seperately.

 

[scoti]

Disconnect your battery and the starter out of the car, and test it seperately.

x2. The starter & wiring system need to be evaluated separately to help you isolate what's preventing it from starting.

 

[Tynan918]

Disconnect your battery and the starter out of the car, and test it seperately.

x2. The starter & wiring system need to be evaluated separately to help you isolate what's preventing it from starting.

Understood, I'll start dropping the starter a little later this morning and get on this.

 

[Tynan918]

Positive terminal on the battery is damaged... My subwoofer power wire did this before I corrected the connection to the power terminal on the battery...it melted the terminal...

Could this cause the voltage drop ?

(Removing starter now)