Starter and/or Electrical issue??...Need your input & help PLEASE!

[Viol8tor]

Hi all,
I have run into a problem (actually 2) with my '95 Aurora that has me stumped, so I could really use all of your input.

I was driveing at about 40mph when all electrical power and engine power cut off for about a half of a second. The car didn't stall or anything, and right after everything went dead, it came right back up again and everything seemed fine. No check engine light or any codes, or any sign that there was or is a problem.

I drove for about another 15 miles of stop & go driving, again with no problem. I then stopped in a plaza to do an errand, and when I came back, I got in and everything seemd to be fine but when I went to crank the engine, nothing happened. Nothing at all- no sounds, clicking, or turning over. All of the other lights come on and seem to work fine, but nothing from the attempt at cranking the starter. When I try to turn it over, the temp gauge pegs all the way down when the key is turned, and the radio and all accesories shut down (which I believe that they are supposed to when starting).

I tried everything I could think of, playing with the key, steering column and shifter and not a peep or noise from anything to do with cranking the car. I was originally thinking that my battery was dead, but the DIC said the voltage was over 12 v, and all of the lights worked fine. I then called trip AAA, and a tow truck came after an hour. They tried to jump it, and still no difference, no noise or click or turn over. I towed it to the dealer, and after they pulled it apart they are insisting that it is the starter. They say they tested the batt & alt, and they are fine.

Do you think the two problems (momentary loss of all electrical and now no turning over) are related, or is it 2 seperate issues? I figured the loss of electrical was just a lost grond contact or a fuse or something.

As for the no turning over problem, I find it hard to believe that it could be just the starter, as I figure that there would be at least some grinding or clicking, and the starter has given no indication that it is on the way out. I called Bosch and talked to one of their techs about the issue and they seemed to agree that it doesn't sound like the problem. SO there my car sits, with me already having an $85 diag fee, and them quoting $400 on top of that to put in a starter. They offered to allow me to take it as is with the intake removed so it would be easy for me to do the starter myself for just the cost of the diag, which is the way I will probably go but I am really doubting that the reason why it won't turn over is because of the starter.
Until I get this figured out, I am dead in the water...

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isnibs]

Check that there is power at the starter when you turn the key.

[Viol8tor]

Originally Posted by Isnibs

Check that there is power at the starter when you turn the key.

Thanks for your input. I really could use the help here, as I have to fix this and CANNOT afford to buy multiple parts or service in attempts to chase the problem. I need to get it pinned down before I do it.

The mechanic that worked on it said that he checked it that, and the power was getting to the starter. He also said he was able to get a faint short click out of it when he tapped on it (the actual starter)

[Isnibs]

Tell the shop that you will purchase the starter if they read the
computer codes ...just to be sure.

Because
Maybe the momentary loss of all electrics threw a code and that
should be checked before you get a total loss of all electrics.

If you do, don't forget the 1995 is an OBD1 computer with a OBD11 connector.

[Viol8tor]

Hey guys (first, a little scolding)...a little more help and input from more of you would have been nice here! Just one guy (and thank you again to him) is really not acceptable teamwork problem solving here, and that is what the purpose of this board is! Next time please try to help where you can, as it could be YOUR problem that needs the help next time!

Anyways, I have a resolution to the no turnover or start problem that happened all of a sudden.

It was in fact the starter. I replaced it with a Bosche reman that I got from the local PepBoys. DId the work myself, and save about $300 bucks this way. I got the part for around $125, and had to pay the dealer about $90 for the diag.

Not too bad of a job (took about 2 hours in total), and found something really weird after pulling the old started off of the engine. There is a small square "blow hole" that goes right from the empty space under the intake that houses the starter to the flywheel area. I thought that it was weird that this area is not sealed (there was a ton of crap- almost like a birds nest), as crap could get in to the flywheel area of the engine, but the real weird part of this is that in mine there was a 3 inch removable torx head screwdriver bit sitting right in that hole sitting against the flywheel! This looks like it has been in there a while, as it is a bit bent and the end (where it was pressing against the flywheel at times) was wore. I have no idea how this could have got there and in that hard to reach spot!

Anyways, I just wanted to update everyone and hopefully help out the next guy who has a similar problem.

Immediately from one problem to the next though- I now have to check into an oil leak problem , which was previously a standard typical N* leak, but since this other problem occured, now seems to have become a REAL GUSHER! I don't know if the problem was aggrivated by either of the 2 tows, or by something the dealership did, but it was definitely one of them, as this was not even close to this bad before they got a hold of it! Not that I would be able to prove anything to get them to take responsability for it, so hopefully they didn't cause any major damage to it!

It is always something, isn't it?