starter doesn't start

[chris2523]

so the car didn't start. ok. dirty battery terminals. cleaned, tightened. cool. worked for a day.

no crank. turn the key, nothing at all.
cleaned all the terminals. nope.

so while my brother holds the key in crank, i hit the solenoid with a hammer. it starts.

put another solenoid in it from a broken car. my brother got hit in his taurus.
starts once. then nothing. no restart.

then i pulled the starter out. took it apart, looks ok.
put it together, attached it to a battery charger. the solenoid clunks, starter spins. all is normal.

put it back in the car. it works, once. and then yet again, nothing at all.

so while my brother holds the key in crank, i hit the solenoid with a hammer. it starts. this worked both times i tried it.

the dual 1000 amp batteries are charged. 12.4 volts or so when i checked. i have power at the solenoid trigger wire under the car. i have power in the big power cable.

wtf. i'm lost. both solenoids died at once? seems very unlikely. the taurus did not have starting problems.
i'm gonna get another solenoid monday. but i have no idea whats going on here.

 

[dnsherrill]

is there any reason (engine size?) the solenoid would function with the Taurus but not the Mark? good luck with the new solenoid...my money says a new starter is the answer

 

[chris2523]

nah. the solenoids are all the same.

solenoids aren't that expensive at least.

and the starter motor works, its just the solenoid won't engage to put power to the motor.

 

[DLF]

Take a good look at the cable that powers the starter. It runs under the front of the oil pan.

 

[mossbergman]

Take a good look at the cable that powers the starter. It runs under the front of the oil pan.

DLF, you sir are awesome. Everything you post on the forum is gold

 

[chris2523]

Take a good look at the cable that powers the starter. It runs under the front of the oil pan.

will do.

DLF, you sir are awesome. Everything you post on the forum is gold

tis true!

 

[chris2523]

my money says a new starter is the answer

i think we have a winner..
brushes are gone. they are gone, i assume, because there is a bad spot where the brushes ride on the rotor. time to dig for some parts i guess.

 

[dnsherrill]

about 15 years ago I had an '82 Datsun p/u diesel...had to bang that starter about every 3rd or 4th start to find 'that spot'....good times

 

[chris2523]

the old parts. you can see how worn they are.

so i bought new parts. then one of the gears broke, damaged the gear housing and destroyed my new armature! damn. got another gear housing and gears from the spare parts half of the garage, and getting another armature tomorrow... sigh. its fighting me every step of the way.

 

[Markviiiedrea]

How much is it costing you to rebuild the starter?