Odd starting problem..

[ErrorS]

I know plenty about carbureted vehicles, this is my first fuel injected vehicle.. it's giving me a headache.

It had a bad battery, the battery would run dry and I'd get nothing but a 'click'. I could be sure that after I charged the battery a bit that it would start for me..

So I replaced the battery, from the store it wouldn't start. Charged it overnight and it started right up.. drove around for a bit, shut it down and I got that dreadful "click" with no start.

Battery had a good 12.75 going to it, alternator was putting out 14.4.. for the first time, the van wont start with a battery that has a full charge.

The starter doesn't engage. I hear some 'click' but i'm not sure which relay it is, if it is any.. or just some stupid internal light turning on or something.

I tried screwing around with the gear shifter, starting it in neutral or whatever.. but it doesn't help any.

It's a 94 Villager with a ton of miles on it (170k I think?).

No check engine lights or anything while it's running.. "Check Engine" comes on as I'm trying to start it, but I think all vehicles do this?

[dzus]

The 'clicking' sound is from the inhibit relay or starter solenoid,either way it seems to have power so I would replace the starter.

[ErrorS]

I get a click from the inhibitor relay and one from the passenger side of the vehicle, I'm not sure what that is.

I can be sure that it will start 3-4 times before it has trouble starting again. When it starts, the starter and van fire right up like it's brand new off the lot.. then out of nowhere, when I turn the key I get nothing but a "click".

edit: This all started when I let my battery run all the way dry. I tried starting it, lights blinked on and off.. and i think my window motor died at that point.

[dzus]

I would guess you have a dead spot in the starter motor armature,so when one of the starter brushes lands on that spot nothing happens.

[drcoffee]

I just had the same issue with a no-start problem. The batteries can leak from the posts and the factory cables wick up the acid. My ground lead needed to be replaced and that fixed the problem. Check your cables for corrosion but with that many miles, I would change at least the Black ground cable to start with. Many electrical problem come from a bad ground.

[ErrorS]

I'm still chasing the problem.. my new battery is either no good (it was dead, 11.5v, when I got it), now it wont hold a charge.. or there is a drain on the battery. Alternator is definitely charging.

Had an uncle check out the van (which is at my mom's, stuck there) and he said it was positive it was the solenoid.. took the solenoid and starter out and went to buy a new one. I first found out he was working on the van when he called me from Autozone to tell me it was $150 for a solenoid.

It's possible it is both the solenoid (or starter) and the battery. The van started once when I bypassed the solenoid after hitting the starter with a hammer, the next time it wouldn't.. i checked and the battery was dead.

[eltigre]

Originally Posted by ErrorS

I'm still chasing the problem.. my new battery is either no good (it was dead, 11.5v, when I got it), now it wont hold a charge.. or there is a drain on the battery. Alternator is definitely charging.

Had an uncle check out the van (which is at my mom's, stuck there) and he said it was positive it was the solenoid.. took the solenoid and starter out and went to buy a new one. I first found out he was working on the van when he called me from Autozone to tell me it was $150 for a solenoid.

It's possible it is both the solenoid (or starter) and the battery. The van started once when I bypassed the solenoid after hitting the starter with a hammer, the next time it wouldn't.. i checked and the battery was dead.

It's the solenoid! Do yourself a favor an go on ebay looking for starter solenoid for a Villager. there is one guy on there that all he sells are solenoids for a fraction of what retail wants and works great.