1986 Plymouth voyager Starter problems !!

[SHannonh]

First off, nice forums

I've got a 1986 PLymouth Voyager with the 2.6 mitsubishi engine in it. My alternator locked up causing the belt to break. I put another alternator on there which was the wrong one. It was for a 1980 Mazda. Same hook ups and all. The van tried to start a few times only to keep stalling out (I may have had a plug wire crossed in all the confusion). Then the starter simpley just started clicking like the battery was dead.

I tried another battery, no luck. Figured the low volts fried it and put on another starter, no luck. Bought a brand new starter and battery, no luck. I've checked all connections with no problems. I've torn into the under dash wiring and see no wires burnt or even loose.

Does anyone have any suggestions at all ??? What relays do I need to check ? The bendix will come out to engage, but thats it
Hell, i'd be happy with a push button start if it would work !!

Any and all help is appreciated, i'm having a very tough time getting rides back and forth to work

-Shannon

[GTP Dad]

Try jumping across the terminals with a screw driver or purchase a remote start switch. If the starter won't turn the vehicle over then something in the engine is locked up. By using the remote start switch the starting circuit in the vehicle is bypassed and the car should turn over. I would turn the ignition on and see if it starts. If it starts and runs you can use this method for a while until you find the real problem.

[SHannonh]

I'll try jumping the terminals. These things are weird the way they are made though with the internal ground and all. The bendix will come out, but it will not spin the gear at all. I've turned the mototr by hand so it's not locked up.

Is there any particular remote starter switch I shoudl try ?

-Shannon

[GTP Dad]

No! You can buy one from autozone for a few dollars that will work well. One other question, did you check the ground wire from the battery to the block? If the bendix comes out on the starter but will not turn the starter motor then it sounds like a bad ground to me. Try attaching a ground wire, jumper cable strength to the starter and see if it will turn. If not you may have a bad starter even though it is new.

[GTP Dad]

No! You can buy one from autozone for a few dollars that will work well. One other question, did you check the ground wire from the battery to the block? If the bendix comes out on the starter but will not turn the starter motor then it sounds like a bad ground to me. Try attaching a ground wire, jumper cable strength to the starter and see if it will turn. If not you may have a bad starter even though it is new.

[SHannonh]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

No! You can buy one from autozone for a few dollars that will work well. One other question, did you check the ground wire from the battery to the block? If the bendix comes out on the starter but will not turn the starter motor then it sounds like a bad ground to me. Try attaching a ground wire, jumper cable strength to the starter and see if it will turn. If not you may have a bad starter even though it is new.

The way this starter is set up, it has a ground going from the solenoid to the starter, a place for the hot, and a plug which I assume goes to the ignition since it leads into a bundle of wires under the dash. I read a chiltons last night at the store that said I needed to jump that red plug going into the dash to the - terminal to bypass the ignition so i'm going to try that now. This mitsu setup is weird. I am used to a regular SBC or something like that..lol

I'm going to take all the electrical connections loose tommorrow and clean them, them i'm going to run the wire like hciltons stated to bypass the ignition.

If that doesn't work, I've got a van for sale

-Shannon