Help, start problem

[Haiyan Liu]

My 95' Mitsubishi, Galant (100,000miles) can't start up at all suddenly. It never happened before. It really pissed me off.
It never brought me any single trouble to start even in freezing cold weather.
The battery is good. I tried to jump start, it didn't work. I replaced 4 spark plugs, it makes no difference.
Lights can be turned when key is half turned. When I tried to start the car, I only hear sound like "sheh--".

Here is more information.
95 Galant, AUTO, SOHC engine. I replaced transmission just few months ago.

It also used to hestiate to pick up speed. Especially once when I climbing a slope a year ago, the speed was about 45 mph, then the speed couldn't go up as I stepped on gas pedal very hard. after a while, it suddenly shot forward and pushed me to seat.

Now it sits there, really piss me off. I don't know what is the problem?

Thanks alot

[Outlawzcc]

It sounds like you might have a starter problem.

[gmech]

sorry to hear you're having probs bro. since the problem occurred suddenly, it doesn't sound to me as though it is a faulty starter, unless the starter has been dragging over the past several days. If you follow the suggestions below, you should be able to pinpoint the problem.

if you've verified the battery is in good working order, chances are the problem is either a faulty neutral safety switch or corroded electrical contact either from the primary side of the battery to the starter or battery ground. Nonetheless,


1. First, verify the battery is in good working order. If the dash, headlights, and dome lights do not dim significantly while attempting to start the vehicle, your battery should be ok.

2. Next, remove each battery terminal one at a time and clean both the battery contact posts and battery cable terminals with about a cup of warm water mixed with a solution (about 4 Tbs) of baking soda. If you have a brass or steel brush, use it. This will neutralize any acids and clean both conductive surfaces. reconnect both cables tightly and retest starting.

3. Follow the negative battery cable lead from the battery to where it bolts onto the engine bracket or in some cases engine block and remove and clean the connecting terminal using the same procedure in step 2. Reconnect the ground cable and retest starting.

4. Next, test the neutral safety switch functonality. On automatics try starting the vehicle in Park and\or Neutral and verify the switch for proper operation. On manual trannys ensure the the clutch is fully engaged and verify the clutch safety switch for proper operation.

CAUTION: Disconnect the ground cable again before performing the next step to avoid shorting the battery and risking serious damage or injury!

5. Follow the positive cable to the starter and with the ground lead disconnected from the battery post, remove the positive lead terminal connecting to the starter. See illustration for details

Clean the terminal using the procedures described in step 2 and reconnect the positive starter cable and ground terminals and retest starting.

6. If the problem persists, you can use a remote starter switch or an equivalent conductor connected to the starter solenoid terminal and the battery to bypass the internal ignition switch to "crank test" the engine. See illustration for details

7. If the ignition switch bypass fails, perform a solenoid bypass as follows. Using an approved remote starter switch or heavy conductor such as a standard screwdriver, momentarily short the main battery terminal lead on the rear of the starter solenoid to the other large round lead on the rear of the solenoid. See illustration for details

This effectively bypasses the starter solenoid and ignition switch and tests the starter directly. If bypassing the ignition switch and starter solenoid the vehicle still fails to crank, it would indicate either a faulty starter or battery.

In summary, test and verify the following components:

1. Battery confirmation
2. Battery terminal confirmation
3. Battery cable confirmation
4. Park\Neutral safety switch confirmation
5. Battery\Starter Connections - remove clean and reconnect
6. Ignition bypass starter test
7. Solenoid bypass starter test

I hope this points you and others having simliar probs in the right direction. I am interested to find out what the problem is so get back to us when you know more. Good luck and God speed.

-gmech