Starter clicks... but won't crank over. *Video inside*

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Just did a SOHC to DOHC and auto to 5 speed swap. When I first turned the key, the starter turned the motor VERY slowly for 2 seconds. After that the starter just kept making the clicking sounds shown in the video. It sounds as if the starter is "stuck". I tried jumping the starter by arcing the connections, but it still made the clicking sound. Anyone know what it can be?

KA24DE swap.. problem. - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EM_i28TonU&feature=player_profilepage)

[stEEZE nikkAA]

I also want to add that the battery is a known good battery. I stole it from my mom's mini van ahahaha

I forgot to turn the music off, but there is a whine coming from the middle-back of the engine bay that happens for about 7 seconds after trying to crank it over, then dies off.

[User_Name]

Just happened to mine. I literally just got done checking mine and now my starter wont even click!

Sorry i couldn't have been of any help.
GoodLuck!

[abunai the drifter]

did you by pass the starter interlock connector it under the fuss box by the passenger shock tower it a two wire gray connector black and yellow and white wires loop them together if you havent done it all ready if that dont work you may need a new starter

[stEEZE nikkAA]

yeah I jumped that connection. took me ages to find it... only to find it UNDER the fuse box.

[rcdad123]

have you checked and made sure all of the heavy battery wires(both negative and positive) are hooked up tightly? do you have enough ground wires and are the wires at least 4 gauge thick? if you`re sure the battery have enough juice, try hitting the starter with a socket extension or any metal object heavy enough to rattle the starter`s solenoid while someone turns the key to start. if it cranks over, you need a starter. but from experience, sounds like you need a starter.

[sr20sean]

is the starter good? swap out that one for the one from your single cam and try again. starters are all the same.

[cotbu]

I might be mistaken but that does not sound like a relay it sounds more metallic. Can you manually turn the engine over/w a ratchet. Sounds like a seized engine trying to crank. starter and flywheel intercourse ;)

[Pacman]

Put a starter in it since know one here knows how to rebuild.

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Ok. So I went to the garage the next day. Used a KNOWN good battery. The starter clicked 4 times, then nothing. Went back to it's old ways. The relays click and what not. Fuel pump is whirling, I can hear everything working. In fact, we tried push starting it aound the block, looking like idiots, and we got one cylinder to fire ahahaha.

But anyways, I checked all my grounds, sanded the contact points, cleaned the battery connection, and still nothing. When I try turning the key to crank it, the dash lights go off until I let go of the key. The headlights stay bright. The car is a 1990 s13 with orignally a ka24e/auto. The harness is from a 1992 s13. I wired everything up to where they go. BUT... in the connections that are INSIDE the car (everything before the rubber grommet), there are, in order, a white plug, a diode, the ECU connector, then another white plug. I switched the very lst plug to the original SOHC connecter. BUT.. the very first conector next to the diode... that did not match up to the car's conector. So I took the SOHC connector and used that. Matched all the colors, but ended up with one BLUE wire that goes to nowhere.


Help. This sucks. lol

I'll post up pics of the connectors soon. It's the one that is wrapped in a black foam.

[Ekin_s13]

you can take the starter out and go to autozone have them check if the stater is any good since you are running out of option

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Both starters that I have interchangeably put on the car are working and have been tested at oreilly's. Both passed with flying colors.

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Ow can I check how much voltage is going to the starter when I crank it?

[Trap Star]

I had a problem like this on my SR after a 5spd swap. Are you sure that you have jumped the right plug? Also I had a wire on my alternator that was just the tiniest bit loose, that turned out to be my problem after I had finally found the right plug to jump. Once I tightened it down the car cranked over immediately.

[chiboy002]

Ow can I check how much voltage is going to the starter when I crank it?
have you heard of SEARCH?

[User_Name]

Dude i am in the same boat!
The way you can test to see if your starter is getting the voltage is to get a test light. You'll leave the battery and the fuse box connected to the starter, but remove the little "signal" wire from the starter (it's the 1 wire that connects to the starter). With the test light, you'll go ahead and probe the 1 wire so it is touching the probe, and with the ground on the test light you'll ground out to the chassis. Have someone act as if they are starting the car; The test light should light up if you are receiving 12v to the igntion wire going to the starter.

Mine is not giving a signal :(
I don't know what to do now

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Yes, I actually have heard of search. But you know what? That's all I've been doing for 3 countless weeks in a row. Search. To get this shit started. So yes, I've heard of it.

Which wire on the alternator was loose for you? The big plug that hooks on to the alternator? And yes, I jumped the wire that is under the passenger side fuse box. I'll test the starter for power when I can.

[iveexcaped3]

If you have one or have a friend with one use a dvom so you can see how much power is getting there test light just tells you if its got power. Have you tried a jumper cable straight to the starter? I wonder if the silnoid is going bad. Also check your bat voltage with the Dvom see if its low

[ESone3]

Japh, sounds like everything is wired fine. The solenoid is either stuck or you not getting enough juice to the starter. Check to see if there are any loose connections to the starter (should be direct to the battery) or tap on the starter as you crank it. Also try jumping the battery with another car. You might have drained the battery already not giving it enough voltage to start the car.

[cotbu]

I listened to it again and it does sound low on voltage. Try turning off everything you don't need, even pulling fuses,charge the battery. then try again.

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Tommy, it does seem like the starter is not gettingenough juice. Because what stumps me the most is that it cranks a little then clicks one day, then clicks 3 times and stops clicking the next day. Should I redo the main power and ground wires? Get new cables and terminals? That seems to be one of the few options now.

I'll try taking out all the unneccesary fuses and components prior to start up and see if that makes a difference.

[User_Name]

Tommy, it does seem like the starter is not gettingenough juice. Because what stumps me the most is that it cranks a little then clicks one day, then clicks 3 times and stops clicking the next day. Should I redo the main power and ground wires? Get new cables and terminals? That seems to be one of the few options now.

I'll try taking out all the unneccesary fuses and components prior to start up and see if that makes a difference.

You should check the relays.
Also, use a voltage meter like suggested above. Put the positive in the starter wire and ground the other side, have someone turn the ignition to start and check the readings. That will tell you if it is low or not.

[wrongsidedrive]

Ow can I check how much voltage is going to the starter when I crank it?

multi-meter. set the function to DC voltage, make sure your leads are in the proper terminals on the multimeter. what you are going to be checking here for is voltage drop within the positive wire leading to the starter, so take your positive lead and touch it to the positive terminal , then take your negative lead and touch it right where that wire connects to the starter, make sure you have it on the proper wire at the starter or it will not read. make sure you are cranking the motor over to get a reading. NEXT you can also check the ground circuit of the starter using the same method. move your negative lead over to the negative terminal and touch your positive lead to the case of the starter motor. in either of these tests if you are coming up with a voltage drop of greater then about .2volts you should replace or repair the wires. here is a helpful video i found Starter Circuit Voltage Drop - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry68G0C2Fyc). good luck with this. to me it does not sound like a voltage problem sounds more mechanical to me

[stEEZE nikkAA]

thanks a bunch for the directions. my buddy has a multimeter, i'll grab it from him to test it out. and mechanical problems? explain


all the relays work. if i understand correctly, i just put the meter to the ohm setting and see if there is a reading of 0 or < 0? as you can tell, I fell asleep in the electrical section of my automotive class LOL

[MajorLiquidGaming]

reset ur ecu

[iveexcaped3]

Do not do ohms with electricity available it will fry the Dvom. Omhs reads the resistance in the circuit which in this case won't do to much for you. Like he said do a voltage drop or just ground it to common spot.(shock tower) then put the positive on the power terminal of the starter get a reading if 12v+ is availablemove to the small signal wire. Same ground and have someone crank it and you should have a reading as they are cranking
To me this ^^^ seems easy to follow if its hard for you let me know ill try to reword it.

[stEEZE nikkAA]

So I've been considering redoing the battery cables, and I realized that I might have put the main ground wire to the wrong spot. I know it goes from the battery terminal then to the battery tray. From there, I put it back to the frame. Should I have put it on the bottom of the intake manifold?

[sadie my240sx]

check the starter gear it may be slipping or break if not check the solenoid for high resistance with a volt meter

[iJDM]

When I try to start the car, the starter spins, but the engine doesn't crank at all. I took the starter of of my other s13 but the same thing happened. The key was turned to start after the car had already been started and that's what caused this. The new starter is still on and spins freely but won't start the car, or engage with the flywheel at all. Does my starter need shims? I had a new flywheel installed before this happened, but could I already need a new flywheel because of the key being turned to start after already running? Any help would be really appreciated. I need to figure this out ASAP as I have no other way of getting around other than my s13 and I have work, school, etc. :/ Please helpppppp

[stEEZE nikkAA]

Thread hijack, much? Make your own thread. They're free.

[iJDM]

Thread hijack, much? Make your own thread. They're free.

Dont get mad steeze bro

[Taylor008]

Starter grounds to the block. Do it.

[ESone3]

Japh i'm pretty sure your not getting enough voltage.

Did you relocate the battery to the back? If so, what gauge wiring are you running?

If the wire is too thick or thin, it will not give the proper voltage.

PLEASE try and jump it with another car, it should start. DO THIS NOW!

[sandy ms6]

I know its the ghetto way but if your still unsure if your starter isnt getting enough juice turn your key to the ACC position so the fuel pump is on and run a wire from the positive side of the battery to the starter terminal. Dont connect them just use to start real quick, I had the same problem I even did the stupid bypass thing with interlock connecter. Now I have my starter wired up to a switch, I gave up trying to figure out what was hooked up wrong...

[Chay G]

I know its the ghetto way but if your still unsure if your starter isnt getting enough juice turn your key to the ACC position so the fuel pump is on and run a wire from the positive side of the battery to the starter terminal. Dont connect them just use to start real quick, I had the same problem I even did the stupid bypass thing with interlock connecter. Now I have my starter wired up to a switch, I gave up trying to figure out what was hooked up wrong...

i had the same problem, if it works this way just add a relay direct from the fuse box to your starter, i'm running it that way for 2 years without issues

[Andres_G]

So I've been considering redoing the battery cables, and I realized that I might have put the main ground wire to the wrong spot. I know it goes from the battery terminal then to the battery tray. From there, I put it back to the frame. Should I have put it on the bottom of the intake manifold?

So u went from negative battery post ---> battery tray? --->frame....

it goes battery post ---> frame ---> intake manifold.

But your starter I clicking? Somehow its grounded? How is your engine connected to the negative battery post?

Have you load tested your battery? DO a voltage drop test on your positive AND negative cables.