Insane starting problem!

aaa098 · #1 11-12-2005, 06:26 PM

Hey folks!

Here are my specs:

Make:

1996 Plymouth Voyager
2.4 L, 4 cylinder

Problem:

For the past week starting my van was a real pain. It would turn over SLOWLY and slowly until the engine finally started. Had the battery and alternator tested and both are excellent. Being the amatuer mechanic and having to stick my fingers into everything I disconnected battery then reconnected it. Now it slowly turns over like before, but then makes a loud clicking sound and never starts. I repeat the process over again and I get the same thing, it slowly slowly turns over then clicks like crazy. What could be the problem here? I searched the forum, but in regards to starter posts all the symptoms were just clicking whereas I have a slow turn over then clicking.

aaa098 · #2 11-12-2005, 06:29 PM

oh and let me also add that when it would start before I messed with it, my spedomoter didn't work. The other guages did but the spedometer didn't

mobil_12 · #3 11-12-2005, 06:33 PM

sounds like a weak battery to me. you say it was checked? how do the terminals look? how bout the cables? good connection at the starter? if thats all good, maybe have your battery rechecked.

aaa098 · #4 11-12-2005, 06:39 PM

The battery is a-ok - perfect and so are the terminals (I use those little felt anti corrosion disks). In regards to the starter terminals, how do I check? Where is my starter located?

pentabob · #5 11-12-2005, 09:37 PM

Hi 00098,
Sounds like the starter is giving up the ghost, pulling too many amps when trying to turn over the engine, eventually the amp pull will get great enough where the soleniod wont hold, which releases the starter, the amp draw drops, the soleniod reingages the starter, the amperage draw goes back up, and so on, this is probably the clunking your are hearing, (the solenoid enaging and releasing)
good luck,
Bob

aaa098 · #6 11-12-2005, 09:55 PM

you guys rock...now where on my van can I find the starter so I can replace it?

MagicRat · #7 11-13-2005, 11:14 AM

It's the round cylindrical thing bolted to the side of the engine where the engine meets the transmission. You will have to raise the car on jackstands and crawl underneath to see it,

vipergg · #8 11-13-2005, 04:13 PM

Boy this sure sounds like a battery problem specially with you losing the speedo which is classic with a weak battery . One thing I would do even if it looks clean is to take a toothbrush dipped in a solution of water and baking soda and scrub the inside of the battery terminal connectors , these develop a film that you can't see , had this same type problem occur this summer and I had the battery tested which was fine . It would click and not turn over . After the terminal cleaning and also got a battery terminal brush and roughed up the battery terminals and then put everything back together and tightened down good and viola haven't had another problem since .

aaa098 · #9 11-13-2005, 05:20 PM

Thanks for all the help guys! It ended up being a starter problem (the battery as I originally said is perfect). I pulled out the starter and put in a new one. Starts like a charm. It was a pain but I saved some money.

vipergg · #10 11-13-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaa098

Thanks for all the help guys! It ended up being a starter problem (the battery as I originally said is perfect). I pulled out the starter and put in a new one. Starts like a charm. It was a pain but I saved some money.

I know this is after the fact but did you try cleaning the terminals to the starter before replacing ?

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