No Start, Very wierd

[brunetp]

I have been trying to trace this for monthes now and am at wits end. The van will not start. You can hear the relay click when you turn the key but starter will not turn. There is no power going to the starter cables. I also replaced the Neutral saftey switch and checked all fuses. Can anyone help me?

[LMP]

www.avigex.ca/xport/starterdiagram.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/starterlocation.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/starterdiagnosis.jpg
If you hear the solenoid click, then either the solenoid contacts are fried, or the starter itself is shot. Tha heavy gage wire stat goes to tthe starter is also the tie to the alternator..check is you have 12V at starter, or at heavy gauge connector at alternator while trying to start: ...if you have 12v, cable is OK.
Sometimes, just losening the connection at the starter and tightening again will break corrosion and clear the problem.
What year and engine type?

[brunetp]

I took the starter off and bench tested it. it works fine. I cleaned the battery cables too. There is no power to the cables underneath the car when you try to crank it. i checked the cables with a multimeter while someone else turned the key. And it's not the neutral switch, i replaced it. It's not a solenoid click you hear when you try cranking it, it a very quiet relay click.

[LMP]

Turn the headlights ON. Try to start. Do the headlights stay ON when you try to start? If not check battery connectors. ..and..what is the age of battery ?

[brunetp]

tried a charger on it, tried a different battery, theres no power getting to the starter!

[LMP]

"..no power going to the starter:"
OK ..there are TWO wires going to the starter:

..wire from ignition key start position: S
..wire direct from battery very heavy gauge: B
which one does not have a feed? surely not both....

DId you run the diagnosis test as provided above...there is no real way to escape the solution

first check if you have 12v on the S connector - wire probably purple - when you turn ignition switch to START: if not, may be the ignition switch is the culprit (you checked the neutral switch, you said). Since you say you do not hear the starter solenoid click,(though you hear something else click..possibly relays that turn off when switch goes to start position) I'd think the problem is with this circuit, as you say the starter and solenoid have been checked.

How all the other ar circuits behave? Do you have headlights? Does the heater blower run? Blown fusible link W (bolted to ABS relay) would block starting, but other elements would not work also...
And my question again, if you turn the headlights ON, will they stay ON when you try to start?

IN the end, run a separate power wire from battery to the starter B terminal. TO make it easy for a test, you can tap from the large distribution post with a red plastic cap at firewall near brake booster....but anyway as long as you do not hear the starter solenoid click, your problem is between the ignition switch and the S terminal.

[brunetp]

Thank you for the help. It's pretty straight forward now. First i have to get the van inside to work on. I guess i could just run a booster cable and touch the terminal on the solenoid with no power and that should turn the starter to get it fired up to move it . The way i look at it if theres no power at the S terminal it's the ignition switch or the neutral switch. If no power at B ternimal then it's simply a bad power wire.