car won't start, stumped, PLEASE HELP
 

ok, this is my first post so please inform me if i'm doing it wrong.

car is a '93 t/a m6. it won't even turn over when i go to start it. battery is good, clutch switch is bypassed, and when i turn the key i can hear the solenoid click, so i know the relay is good. i'm absolutely boggled and getting very pissed off.. please someone help! i'll try to be as detailed as possible with the symptoms.

recently when i started it, it hesitated, then started up along with a very alarming metallic "clunkety clunk" sound for about 3 seconds(WTF) sound went away and the car ran normally all the way home. the next day i went to start it, turned the key to let the fuel pump prime as usual, then turned the key and... absolutely nothing. console lights went out and everything. when i released the key, the console lights came back on. tried to jump it, same thing, lights went out and everything. got a buddy to help push start it, worked like a charm, ran great. confused. pulled the starter, starter was missing a big ass chunk from the housing that surrounds the spindle part! WTF! so that solves the clunkety clunk sound from before. went and bought a new starter. put it in, went to start it, click. same thing, only now, the lights don't go off when i turn the key, and now it *will* jump start off another battery. so obviously the starter works, i had the battery tested, and the battery is good. it just wont start without being boosted by another battery. i'm so confused! help!

Sounds like two different problems. The problem right now sounds like a bad battery cable or connection at the battery. Do you have a test light or volt meter?

Al 95 Z28

yea i have a meter, but i dont know which of the two starter cables to check for what.. i'm clueless about all that electric business. but i took a wire brush to all the connections at the battery and at the starter, still no dice.

x2 Bad battery or connection.

thanks for the input guys, i'm hoping it's just a bad cable. sorry if this is a stupid question, but of the two wires that connect to the starter- which is which? am i wrong in assuming the larger one is the ground? i'm still learning :/

If its not the starter or battery check ur flywheel. It might b cracked

or maybe they sold me a bad starter? i'm gonna take it to oreillys today and have them bench test it.

The starter is grounded via attachment to the engine block. The big cable is +12v from your battery (even though the cable insulation is black).

http://shbox.com/1/starter_charging_93.jpg



http://shbox.com/1/starter.jpg

ok, battery cable is good. and the battery is still sitting as 12.15v. i'm reseraching as much as i can.. if the chip in my key was 'bad' (if thats even possible), could that be the cause? but then again, i'm assuming it cant be anything related to the security system, because i can jump start the car. i'll try substituting the battery from my blazer.

If you batt is good then I would just take the starter back and tell the store to swap it. I usually end up going through 3 or 4 alts or starters before I get a good one. This is why I now just take my starters and alts or buy original used parts and have them rebuilt locally by someone that can actually do it right the first time.
If the chip in the key is bad the vats wont let the starter engage. Or at least thats what it did on my 97

Use the schematic link I posted to troubleshoot.

do you have 12v at the starter on the big wire( all the time). do you have 12v on the starter little wire when you crank the engine over. and if you have 12v on the big wire and not the small one when cranking. might be the ignition switch under the colume and when you jumped it we are talking battery to battery? and put a jumper cable from the battery neg to the block and see if it starts then. checking grounds straps.

yes the chip in the key can make it not start but if you hear a click noice. your starter solinoide is gettting the 12v so you know the chip is good. bench test the starter befor returning it.

so far, i've had the starter bench tested, it's good. grounds are good.. and shbox believe me i looked at that schematic long before i posted a thread about this problem, but i don't have very much electrical background so i kinda go cross-eyed when looking at that stuff. i'm trying to research and teach myself whenever i can, balancing military work schedule and having just gotten married a month ago. sorry for being such a noob haha but again, thanks for the help everyone. i'm slowly getting it narrowed down.

I GOT IT!! and i feel really stupid.. i got my wife to turn the key while i checked voltage to the starter, and noticed it was only getting 7v to the small cable so i said hmmm.. i took took off all the fusible link connections and there was mucho corrosion. so i wire brushed those bitches and got em all shiny, and she started right up! i know that's a major noob thing to do, forgetting that, but it never occurred to me those things would make a difference. but i learned something new today, and thank you guys for all the help!

Thank u for the post of the solution that actually fixed it! There are way to many people that post up trying to fix there cars take all the advice and never come back to tell people what worked. The posting of solutions not only helps people now but in the future searches as well. So thank u.

i know, it bums me out when i find someone else who had the same problem, but never posted the solution!

so, just kidding. today it's back to doing the same thing. tried multiple batteries, doesnt make a difference. when i turn the key i get a single click. i'm thinking about jump starting it again, and i'll just drive it into a lake. that should take care of it.