'99 Starter Problem?

[Hacker]

Fellow 3rd Gen'ers -

Walked out to my '99 V6 4WD Limited this morning and she would not start. Depressing, since I've only owned her for a month!

Turning the ignition results in a nice rapid solenoid clicking from under the dash (in the engine compartment perhaps?), but no engine turning over.

Battery power appears very strong -- all interior dash lights work when key is in, headlights turn on, burn strong, and do not dim when I try to start.

Repeated attempts to start have yielded nothing except further clicking.

From a little searching on this site, it sounds like either the starter contacts are bad or the starter itself is bad. One of the threads recommended tapping/bumping/kicking the starter motor when turning it over to see if it is the starter contacts, but I have had no luck with that either.

Looks like replacement of either is simple enough, and there are tutorials on here and YotaTech showing how to do it.

Unfortunately, I'm away from home and don't have any tools or a place to work on the car, so I am forced into having a garage or dealer service department help me fix this. I want to make sure I have the best possible diagnosis before I turn it over to people charging an hourly rate to fix her.

Are there any other possibilities that anyone can think of? Trying to make sure it doesn't cost me any more than it has to.

Thanks!

 

[longhaul747]

Fellow 3rd Gen'ers -

Walked out to my '99 V6 4WD Limited this morning and she would not start. Depressing, since I've only owned her for a month!

Turning the ignition results in a nice rapid solenoid clicking from under the dash (in the engine compartment perhaps?), but no engine turning over.

Battery power appears very strong -- all interior dash lights work when key is in, headlights turn on, burn strong, and do not dim when I try to start.

Repeated attempts to start have yielded nothing except further clicking.

From a little searching on this site, it sounds like either the starter contacts are bad or the starter itself is bad. One of the threads recommended tapping/bumping/kicking the starter motor when turning it over to see if it is the starter contacts, but I have had no luck with that either.

Looks like replacement of either is simple enough, and there are tutorials on here and YotaTech showing how to do it.

Unfortunately, I'm away from home and don't have any tools or a place to work on the car, so I am forced into having a garage or dealer service department help me fix this. I want to make sure I have the best possible diagnosis before I turn it over to people charging an hourly rate to fix her.

Are there any other possibilities that anyone can think of? Trying to make sure it doesn't cost me any more than it has to.

Thanks!

It could be the starter but don't rule out the battery. If you get a bad cell in the battery it will appear to be working as far as lights go but you won't have enough power to turn the motor over.

I hate to suggest replacing the battery first and be wrong but it could indeed be the problem. Perhaps if the battery is old anyway you might be doing yourself a favor anyway by replacing it.

 

[Hacker]

Well, here's a weird development.

I went out to go investigate the battery theory...I wondered what would happen if I turned a bunch of stuff *ON*, loading up the battery, and then tried to start it up.

Wouldn't you know it...it did start!

So, if everything in the truck is off, it still just clicks the solenoid and the starter does not turn the engine over. If a bunch of electrical equipment is on, then it starts normally.

Now, I'm REALLY confused. Ideas?

 

[longhaul747]

Well, here's a weird development.

I went out to go investigate the battery theory...I wondered what would happen if I turned a bunch of stuff *ON*, loading up the battery, and then tried to start it up.

Wouldn't you know it...it did start!

So, if everything in the truck is off, it still just clicks the solenoid and the starter does not turn the engine over. If a bunch of electrical equipment is on, then it starts normally.

Now, I'm REALLY confused. Ideas?

Wow that is pretty wacky :bouncy:

I have seen stranger things happen when you get a bad cell in the battery so this is can't be ruled out still. I think you might need more time to know for sure though. If its a flaky starter it should not matter whats on or off it will do it again (or maybe not!!). I can't think of any other gremlin that could cause this other then maybe some strange grounding issue someplace.

If you get it running again you could always stop by a reputable store that sells batteries and the like so they can test it. They usually have a device that can load test the battery and will know if it passes or fails. The dealership can do it to but be prepared to pay up dearly for a new battery!

On one of my motorcycles I had a bad cell in the battery. It would start and run fine except no headlight or light on the speedo when the engine was running. Something about not passing enough current. Never thought in a million years it was the battery but that is what it ended up being.

 

[johnny c]

Did you ever get it figured out? Mine does the same thing sometimes, but I know mine is the starter solenoids contacts. Just got to get around to doing it.!!!!!

 

[theizzardking]

Fellow 3rd Gen'ers -

Walked out to my '99 V6 4WD Limited this morning and she would not start. Depressing, since I've only owned her for a month!

Turning the ignition results in a nice rapid solenoid clicking from under the dash (in the engine compartment perhaps?), but no engine turning over.

Battery power appears very strong -- all interior dash lights work when key is in, headlights turn on, burn strong, and do not dim when I try to start.

Repeated attempts to start have yielded nothing except further clicking.

From a little searching on this site, it sounds like either the starter contacts are bad or the starter itself is bad. One of the threads recommended tapping/bumping/kicking the starter motor when turning it over to see if it is the starter contacts, but I have had no luck with that either.

Looks like replacement of either is simple enough, and there are tutorials on here and YotaTech showing how to do it.

Unfortunately, I'm away from home and don't have any tools or a place to work on the car, so I am forced into having a garage or dealer service department help me fix this. I want to make sure I have the best possible diagnosis before I turn it over to people charging an hourly rate to fix her.

Are there any other possibilities that anyone can think of? Trying to make sure it doesn't cost me any more than it has to.

Thanks!

yeah sounds right to me and a dead blow on the starter is the best instead of duking it out like mike tyson ;-)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Does anyone know if the whole starter contact thing is also relevant to the 2.7?

 

[rick derris]

Had the same starter problem a year ago. It started when it wanted to (usually after about 10 to 15 turns of the key) and became progressevly worse. There are contact kits out there that enable you to rebuild your starter, and if you want the cheepest route, I would say do this a quick as possible. I let mine go for a couple of months, the starter finally had enough, and instead of not starting it wouldn't stop! Didn't matter if the key was in start or out of the car completely, it kept turning over! Had to disconnect the battery in order to stop it. Two hundred bought a new starter, and the only tough part about removing it was seperating the ATF dip stick tube for access to the starter. Good luck!

 

[Stick Figure]

Does anyone know if the whole starter contact thing is also relevant to the 2.7?

its the same for pretty much anything w/ a "T" "L" or "S" on it