'94 Intrepid won't start
OldCarNut
10-10-2004, 11:22 PM
Car won't start, doesn't turn over. Here's what I've checked or done.
1. Tried to jump start, no dice.
2. Charged battery and tested output under load, it's fine.
3. Cleaned and reattached battery cables.
4. Made sure car was in Park, jiggled the shifter while trying to start. Tried same in Neutral. No help.
5. Checked starter relay in Power Dist. Center with VOM, it's ok. Also swapped with another identical relay which was working for wipers, no help.
6. Removed starter and tested on bench. Solenoid kicks in and motor spins freely. It performed perfectly for 90,000 miles with no sign of problems until this abrupt failure.
7. Fearing the worst (engine seized), checked and with sigh of relief, was able to turn engine over with wrench on the flywheel pulley.
8. Noticed that Transmission Gear Selection Indicator Lights on dash panel are all lit up with ignition on. Every stinkin' one of 'em. Owners manual says "have authorized service center check" if this happens.
Haven't stooped to that point quite yet, but I'm close.
9. Last, and possibly most important, discovered that the 16 gauge light green wire which activates the starter solenoid does not have 12 volts when the ignition switch is turned to start position, it remains at zero volts. I am thinking that I've got either a faulty ignition switch, or a faulty transmission neutral safety switch, or bad wiring somewhere.
Am welcoming ideas to pinpoint the problem to avoid buying parts I don't need. Thanks.
1. Tried to jump start, no dice.
2. Charged battery and tested output under load, it's fine.
3. Cleaned and reattached battery cables.
4. Made sure car was in Park, jiggled the shifter while trying to start. Tried same in Neutral. No help.
5. Checked starter relay in Power Dist. Center with VOM, it's ok. Also swapped with another identical relay which was working for wipers, no help.
6. Removed starter and tested on bench. Solenoid kicks in and motor spins freely. It performed perfectly for 90,000 miles with no sign of problems until this abrupt failure.
7. Fearing the worst (engine seized), checked and with sigh of relief, was able to turn engine over with wrench on the flywheel pulley.
8. Noticed that Transmission Gear Selection Indicator Lights on dash panel are all lit up with ignition on. Every stinkin' one of 'em. Owners manual says "have authorized service center check" if this happens.
Haven't stooped to that point quite yet, but I'm close.
9. Last, and possibly most important, discovered that the 16 gauge light green wire which activates the starter solenoid does not have 12 volts when the ignition switch is turned to start position, it remains at zero volts. I am thinking that I've got either a faulty ignition switch, or a faulty transmission neutral safety switch, or bad wiring somewhere.
Am welcoming ideas to pinpoint the problem to avoid buying parts I don't need. Thanks.
ed4733
10-11-2004, 09:54 PM
First, thanks for the info about my Intrepid. My son and I removed the tranny and my son started to install it before I got home from work that weekend. He had his boss come over to help so I am fairly certain that this man knew what he was doing. I am going to try to your ideas this weekend.
Now for your problem you mentioned that you did not have 12v on the wire from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. I would check the wire to make sure that you do not have a broken wire or maybe a fuseable link in the cable.(Don't know if they are still used, but I have this problem before.) Second, when you had the starter on the bench did you check the starter soleniod to make sure that the plunger on the solenoid was not gummed up. If it was maybe the contact disk would not make a good contact with the positive post on the starter. I know these are not the old chrysler starters, but with 3 chryslers around the house and a dad who was an electrician I learned how to repair the starters and replace them as it happened quite often. Good luck with your problem...
Ed
Now for your problem you mentioned that you did not have 12v on the wire from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. I would check the wire to make sure that you do not have a broken wire or maybe a fuseable link in the cable.(Don't know if they are still used, but I have this problem before.) Second, when you had the starter on the bench did you check the starter soleniod to make sure that the plunger on the solenoid was not gummed up. If it was maybe the contact disk would not make a good contact with the positive post on the starter. I know these are not the old chrysler starters, but with 3 chryslers around the house and a dad who was an electrician I learned how to repair the starters and replace them as it happened quite often. Good luck with your problem...
Ed
theFREAKnasty82
10-15-2004, 08:13 AM
ed4733, you hit right on the head when you said the fusible link wire. The green wire that OldCarNut tested and had 0 volts is the culprit. Replace the fusible link and that will now allow the car to start up. If it blows again, check around the starter solenoid for corrosion or anything else suspicious that would cause it to blow again. Replace that green wire, the fusible link wire, and your problems will be solved.
ed4733
10-19-2004, 10:34 PM
OK. If I was guessing right, then the only thing I forgot to mention that I wouldn't put another fuseable link back in. I would get an inline replacable fuse and put that into the line. The fuseable I have purchased in the past were pretty expensive. This way the fuses are less expensive during the trouble shooting process.
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