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]

 

[g0thiac]

Awesome. So we can confirm it does work, how well is another story but now we have definitely found the voltage drop to be the wiring.

My advice, rewire the entire car when you got time off and don't need to rely on it for a daily commuter.

But for now, since this is your only vehicle, skip the purple wire and use another long wire, run it through the firewall, then cut the purple wire at the blue connector and attach the new one connected to it.

 

[g0thiac]

And forget the fusible links, use an in line fuse. But since again you need this car asap, you can get away without it for now.

Focus on the the blue connector where I drew the arrow, and run the long wire I said from the starter through the firewall, to the shorter purple wire coming out of it.

Don't bother reattaching the other side of the purple wire also, It's damaged probably and diagnosing is a waste of time when the whole vehicle needs to be rewired anyways.

Then try using your keys to start. If that doesn't work, then use a small wire to jump the red to the new wire like how the yellow illustrates.

 

[DRIVEN]

At the risk of being "unhelpful", I'll make one last post in this thread.

Respectfully, I disagree with the advice above. Please locate the voltage drop in the purple wire. Again, I'd suggest checking the bulkhead connector. Find the problem and fix it instead of going around it. Bypassing and "rewiring" is the reason the electrical system is so messed up on this car.

 

[g0thiac]

At the risk of being "unhelpful", I'll make one last post in this thread.

Respectfully, I disagree with the advice above. Please locate the voltage drop in the purple wire. Again, I'd suggest checking the bulkhead connector. Find the problem and fix it instead of going around it. Bypassing and "rewiring" is the reason the electrical system is so messed up on this car.

Well I agree, but logically there is no point of him finding the drop, unless he's willing to rewire or use a new harness given the state of it is well...rough.

Him using one jumper wire is not going to make matters any worse. We identified the starter functions, and the drop is most likely the purple wire itself, so even if he does diagnose the voltage drop- the fix will be the same, which is replacing the purple wire.

Now, if he isn't going to rely on this car for his only mode of transport, and is capable of spending the next month or two using a wiring schematic to redo a whole harness. Then sure, because you know if one wire is damaged, more probably are as well.

 

[ELCAM]

Jump a wire from the + battery terminal to the purple wire. If it starts it is not the purple wire but the red one in the blue connector that needs work. If it doesn't start it is the purple one in the blue connector that needs work.

 

[Tynan918]

And forget the fusible links, use an in line fuse. But since again you need this car asap, you can get away without it for now.

Focus on the the blue connector where I drew the arrow, and run the long wire I said from the starter through the firewall, to the shorter purple wire coming out of it.

Don't bother reattaching the other side of the purple wire also, It's damaged probably and diagnosing is a waste of time when the whole vehicle needs to be rewired anyways.

Then try using your keys to start. If that doesn't work, then use a small wire to jump the red to the new wire like how the yellow illustrates.


View attachment 190139

Jump a wire from the + battery terminal to the purple wire. If it starts it is not the purple wire but the red one in the blue connector that needs work. If it doesn't start it is the purple one in the blue connector that needs work.

All do all of this in the morning once I get the starter back installed.

I appreciate the help and information given, I'm just finding out things about this car as I go along...

Starting to realize this seller lied in his description of this car when I bought it...🤦🏾‍♂

 

[g0thiac]

Starting to realize this seller lied in his description of this car when I bought it...🤦🏾‍♂

It happens man, my Pontiac was sold to me as having no rust, and after taking out the carpet, found out we had nearly no floors and wiring issues.

 

[Tynan918]

It happens man, my Pontiac was sold to me as having no rust, and after taking out the carpet, found out we had nearly no floors and wiring issues.

I'm going to sue the seller for it... It's one of my reasons why I'm here posting everything as I go along and finding things... Besides light/shade tree auto maintenance, i work in the legal field. I'm a paralegal, advocate, and activist for men's/fathers rights and civil rights violations.

The AC isn't even hooked up, missing a line between the condenser and compressor, talking about "It just needs to be recharged." ...🤦🏾‍♂

 

[g0thiac]

I'm going to sue the seller for it... It's one of my reasons why I'm here posting everything as I go along and finding things... Besides light/shade tree auto maintenance, i work in the legal field. I'm a paralegal, advocate, and activist for men's/fathers rights and civil rights violations.

The AC isn't even hooked up, missing a line between the condenser and compressor, talking about "It just needs to be recharged." ...🤦🏾‍♂
View attachment 190146

Yep that guy is full of sh*te for sure, I hope the case goes ok man. How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking there?