Alright, It's a 02 2.2 ohv , auto, cav.
This morning the car started up fine. 5 mins before I was done work, I went out to warm the car up. The starter cranks, but the engine wont turn over. After several attemps to start her, the battery gave up. So i tried boosting it, once again, the starter goes but she wont fire up. My buddy came out to give me a hand, we tried knocking the starter but it didnt help. so he got the idea the short out the solenoid with a screw driver, and it work excellent. brought the car home and turned it off and tried firing it up a couple more times and everytime it started.
Obviously I need a new battery and solenoid. Is there anything else im overlooking? I need your help guys, Its colder than a witches titty here in montreal and i need this car running to get to work and school.
Obviously, your starter worked. Though you may have roasted it now. Sounds like the fuel pump may have failed. Try banging the tank a few times while cranking the motor over.
DiamlerChrysler Certified Technician
ASE Certified Technician
Option D Racing Member
Since it seems to be working properly right now, I would think that the problem was internal to the starter. If the starter was spinning but not engaging the gear to the flywheel, then it's likely a problem with the drive gear on the starter. I haven't pulled one of these apart yet, but if it's like many others I've seen, centrifugal force causes the gear to push towards the flywheel when you start to turn it over. If this doesn't seem to be working, it may just need some lubrication. I would assume that because the solenoid would engage the motor to turn, that there isn't any type of fork going from the solenoid to the gear on these starters. The fact that it worked when you just connected the terminals on the solenoid was likely just a coincidence.
As long as you're SURE that the starter wasn't engaging the engine, then there really isn't much else it can be. I would try taking the starter out and inspecting/lubricating the gear mechanism first, and then if it doesn't seem to be salvageable, get a replacement. I would think that there should be a good supply out there of either used, rebuilt, or new depending on your budget. I would price them out first, and if there's a significant difference in price, I would probably opt for the used one. I think that many of these are pretty reliable compared to say 20 years ago, so a used one could likely easily last through the remaining lifetime of the car.
If you've managed to run the battery down from running the starter when it wasn't even engaging the engine, then I think replacement is in order. Considering your fairly northern location, I would opt to buy a decent quality one - not the cheapest offered. If you have a local shop that carries AC Delco, I would lean that direction - but I've also had good luck with the Kirkland ones from Costco, and the Energizer branded ones from Walmart. They're both made by Johnson Controls, and I have yet to have one fail in anyone's vehicle where I've installed one over the past 5 years or so. I find the Canadian Tire ones to be a bit pricey, and that's where I would avoid their cheaper offerings. I've had them fail in under 2 years in the past. Unless you have special requirements for a high powered sound system, etc., I wouldn't bother with the spiral wound units - a bit overkill for daily use.
Good luck!
John
You will find that the starter and solenoid are sold as a "unit", to buy, you have to get both....
You are wrong my friend. You can buy just a solenoid. Call Napa.
