Starter trouble

[wlkjr]

You guys have always helped me out but I have a problem with a Torrent. The Torrent forum is pretty much dead so that is why I came here. Still have my old GP with over 400K on it. Anyway, son's Torrent wouldn't turn over so he got a new battery and it still won't turn over. I'm getting 12v to the starter but nothing when he tries to start. Have taken starter off to have it looked at tomorrow. In the meantime, anything else it could be? He just spent a small fortune having head gaskets replaced.

[wlkjr]

Starter tests ok. So I have another problem, which is what I suspected. What's my options if it is the security system?

[brcidd]

Is security light coming on, then going off after about 5 seconds? Security light on or blinking typically means start and then stall scenerio..

Could also be park/neutral switch-- try it in neutral- switch may have gotten smashed when engine replaced...

See if purple wire gets 12v while in start mode- if not try jumping at starter.

[wlkjr]

How would I jump the starter? I'm headed back over there to check more things.

[brcidd]

Turn ignition on- have car in park- if manual tranny- have in neutral and parking brake on- With a small screwdriver touch battery hot terminal at starter across to purple wire at solenoid terminal - or basically only wire at solenoid sometimes labeled (S)- if starter jumps and/or cranks- your problem is upstream.

Just because a starter bench checks good, does not necessarily mean it can turn the motor over under load. A bench check is not done under load.

[Tech II]

Do you know what kind of Security system your son has on the vehicle?

If PassKey, the SECURITY/THEFT light will go out after 3-5 seconds, when you turn the key to "on".....

If you have PassLock, and you turn the key to on, that light stays on......if you attempt to start the vehicle, and it is now flashing, then obviously you have a PassLock problem......however, if it doesn't flash, you could still have a problem and not know it.......you would need a scan tool that reads "B" codes, to see if there is a Security problem.....with PassLock, that light only goes out, if the engine starts and stays running.....

So, if you have no power at the "S" terminal of the solenoid(purple wire), when the key is in the crank position, as mentioned, you have to work your way back.....could be a crank relay problem....could be a P/N switch....could be a security problem.....

How long ago were the gaskets done? When did the no start begin?

[wlkjr]

The gasket job was done about 2 weeks ago because of a running hot problem. The no crank started yesterday about 4pm. I took the starter to a rebuild shop and the guy there has worked on them for over 30 years. He took it apart and checked the brushes also. The solenoid is not engaging when someone turns the key over. There is a small wire that plugs into the solenoid and that wire has no voltage when trying to crank. I have checked all the fuses and swapped out the start relay.
It has the passlock system according to the manual. When the key is turned to the run postition, the security light comes on for about 5 seconds and goes out.

[brcidd]

Check the big yellow wire coming out of your ignition switch- it should be hot only in start position- if not, bad ignition switch.

[wlkjr]

Thanks guys for all the tips. Unfortunately we have had no success in finding the trouble. He is having it towed tomorrow to a garage for a speedier repair. I will report back on the findings. I hate it when people ask for help and leave folks hanging with no outcome. I have an inkling it may be the ignition switch.

[Tech II]

Sorry, forgot to ask what year the Torrent was...

[wlkjr]

2006 with 141,000 miles

[brcidd]

Sorry- I answered too soon above- an 06 Torrent has NO yellow starter wire at ignition switch- it uses a multiplex method that tells the starter to crank when it see an ignition voltage yet no accessory voltage- it saved the auto maker- 1 less wire to run.

With that in mind- has anyone run accessory wires or aftermarket devices that would energize the accessory circuit full time with ignition circuit?

The accessory circuit MUST drop out when ignition switch is in start position- do they? accessories are wipers, radio, and whatever aftermarket items may be added.

Are all fuses okay- anything you're not telling us that is not working?

Has anyone been wiring in anything extra lately?

[wlkjr]

Originally Posted by brcidd

Sorry- I answered too soon above- an 06 Torrent has NO yellow starter wire at ignition switch- it uses a multiplex method that tells the starter to crank when it see an ignition voltage yet no accessory voltage- it saved the auto maker- 1 less wire to run.

With that in mind- has anyone run accessory wires or aftermarket devices that would energize the accessory circuit full time with ignition circuit?

The accessory circuit MUST drop out when ignition switch is in start position- do they? accessories are wipers, radio, and whatever aftermarket items may be added.

Are all fuses okay- anything you're not telling us that is not working?

Has anyone been wiring in anything extra lately?

Only thing that has been done lately is the head gasket job. It was running fine yesterday morning and I think the ignition key was left partially over a little bit, not all the way off. I have checked all the fuses and swapped the start relay with a known good one. All accessories function. Just wont engage the solenoid. I've expended all I know and he doesn't have time to fool with it, so its off to the garage again.
Thanks for all the insight and effort in diagnosing it.

[wlkjr]

After having the Torrent towed to the garage, the mechanic called my son and said it was the starter fuse. I went through every fuse under the hood twice and in the passenger side fuse panel. I pulled every fuse that said start or ignition and put a meter on them and also checked for 12v on both sides of the fuses when I put them back in. Although I find it hard to believe, I'm sure glad it was something that simple and cheap to fix. My mistrust of mechanics wants me to believe he left something loose and blamed it on a fuse. My other side says I can't believe I overlooked something that simple and my son had checked them also. But as they say, it is what it is. I want to see which one he replaced when he gets it back.

[Stealthee]

You would be surprised what can be overlooked when you are frustrated.

I spent an entire day trying to figure out why I lost my headlights on my Stealth. I checked fuses, fusible links, wiring, etc. Had a post going on a forum and finally one of the more adept electrical guys pointed out a fusible link that I somehow overlooked. Swapped it out and everything was back to normal.