I thought my battery was dead because suddenly my car was acting like it was low on juice when starting, and then wouldn't start at all unless jumped. I put a voltmeter on the battery and it read 12v, I jumped the car and tried again and was getting 14v. Easy enough dead bettery, good alternator, good starter. So I go buy a new battery and the car jumps to life. Then I try to start it later and it barely started. Now it won't start again. I tightened the battery connections. The alternator has to be ok. COuld it be the starter doing this? Has anyone ever run into this problem before?
I had a problem like this and it turned out that it was the starter switch on the steering column and not the battery or electrical system at all. What proved it to me was I but a button in the back of the car that when pressed shorted the starter solinoid to the battery (thus by-passing all switches and relays) and it started immediately the next time this problem happened.
You can try adjusting the switch, which is what I did, though I am going to replace my switch here soon, as the spring no longer works in it (doesn't spring back from ignition).
Take the car to Autozone, they can check the battery and alternator in the car. They checked my system and my battery showed good, but undercharged, and my alternator showed a bad Tri-Diode. So I swapped out my alternator, and haven't had a problem yet.
I went through somthing similar with my 85 gt.Starter whirred but it wouldnt start! New bendix-twice,new starter , new battery,new battery cables,new grounds,atl checked good,switch worked.it would start great with a fully charged battery or with a jump. I found the ring gear on the flywheel was loos and spinning.Welded it on and TA DA fixed. wheelie
------------------ RED 85 GT MY DEAL'S GAP DRAGON SLAYER WHEELER'S PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE SHOP NEAR DEALS GAP check out TAILOFTHEDRAGON.COM 318 curves in 11 miles and now # 2 white 86 gt fastback
Good post Craig but my prob seems to be a little different. The bat is new the alt is pushing out 14v. But when I try to start the car I get a REAL slow turn. You know the slow turn sound. Sometimes the slow turn will catch and it'll start up. The power in the car seems fine, everything is nice and bright. It isn't your classic alternator not charging or starter just clicking situation. Its acting like theres no juice when there clearly is. Funny thing is when I apply jumpers it'll start right up. Remember this is a brand new battery that I bought cause I thought mine was dead. I tightened the bat terminals. I'll have to check the starter ground next and then replace the starter if the fails. I am wondering if its even ossible for the starter to give symptoms like this. As if there isn't enough juice to turn the starter, but with a jump the starter kicks over quickly. (I'm gonna go bang my head against the car until it fixes itself)
Was the "new" battery fully charged before you used it? I have bought new batteries that had very little charge to them, wouldn't even turn the engine over. Make sure you trickle charge the battery overnight before you use it.
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07:22 PM
GlennsToy Member
Posts: 88 From: Ballston Lake, N.Y. USA Registered: Nov 2002
Front compartment light? After running the car check the battery voltage with the engine off, it should be 12.6 volts. Let it sit overnight and check to see if the voltage dropped. Also if you have a VOM with a Amp scale you can disconnect the negative battery terminal and read current between the negative cable and the negative connection on the battery. You should read well below 1 amp. Glenn
I don't know this for sure, but could the be somthing along the lines to the starter/fuse links??
Maybe clean all the connections, check wires for no bad spots, etc.
------------------ 19 Year Old Fierophile. R.I.P.--1986 GT Daily Driver, 4:10s, NX 50 Shot, Borla exhaust, ported manifolds, more goodies --1986 SE V6, Mostly stock W/Integrated rockers and COMING SOON: Intercooled Turbo!!! (possibly) --1984 SE 4.9, IMSA spoiler, Duel exhuast, GT rear bumper, Konis, drop spindles, Rear adjustable perch, Poly total kit, Poly cradle bushings, Big front bar, Added rear bar, 11.25" brakes on all corners w/SS hoses, Fancy wheels wrapped w/soft rubber, and much much more.
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08:10 PM
fiero wrecker Member
Posts: 47 From: Daytona Beach, FL, USA Registered: Mar 2003
I have had the same problem with both of my fieros, they would start very weakly and sometimes not at all. Eventually even jumping did start them. In both cases it turned out to be the starter.
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08:39 PM
GlennsToy Member
Posts: 88 From: Ballston Lake, N.Y. USA Registered: Nov 2002
will bet it's the starter ! have a 4cyl ford ranger acting the same way about 3 weeks ago.Thought the battery was bad, cause with a jump, would start every time.And if it was cold, sometimes it would crank fast and start right up, warm it up, shut off, and would not turn fast enought to start without a jump. Bought a new battery,worked fine,about 3 times, then same thing again, so took it back,told them it was no good,they tested it,said it's fine,we argue,I get a different battery! next day same thing, no start! So I pulled the starter,and the blts holding it together were loose! took it apart and cleaned it a little,tightened the bolts, and has been starting perfect since! moral of the story, check for loose bolts on end of starter,not just the conections....can also be caused by the bushings being worn so it shorts out the armature,if shaft wiggles a lot, you will need a new starter
------------------ 5-84's,1-85,1-87,1-88 all 4cyls. 57MGA-350cu.in,4bbl. 57MGA,4cyl
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08:56 PM
Tweek Member
Posts: 1085 From: Brunswick, ME USA Registered: Dec 2000
I had this EXACT problem on another vehicle 2 weeks ago. Slow to no turn over when hot, ran fine though. Started up OK when cold. I replaced the batt. and it didn't help. Replaced the starter, and that was it!!
Starter is your prob!!
on a side note I had a place test the old one and since it was cold by then it seemed to be ok, although noisy. Ive had no trouble from the new one yet. 2-3+ weeks.
mrgto6467 - Mine was on a Ford too. only it was a 86 E150 van with a 302.
Perhaps all that super cold weather we had this jan/feb killed our starters...
[This message has been edited by Tweek (edited 03-05-2003).]
I assume this is a v6? You can get to the flywheel through the flywheel guard,sheet steel then weld a little at a time by tuning over the enging wheelie
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10:12 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
if it starts OK cold, but not when warm/hot, it's usually the cables and/or bad ground connection. when the copper rusts (turns green) it doesnt flow power very well when hot. and being the cables are usually pretty well covered, its hard to see how bad they really are.
It barely starts hot cold or luke warm. Whats interesting though is last night I rtied it again and it was turning dreadfully slow. So I decided to turn everything on, wipers, lights, radio, etc. and it didn't get dim and you know what??? It actually turned over and started! My money is still on the starter. But I have an extra starter to try out so I may be partial.
My money is still on the starter. But I have an extra starter to try out so I may be partial. 
