wew

Put the car in my garage to replace some exhaust gaskets. Gaskets come in and I take the turbo manifold and turbo off with lines and everything. Put everything back on and the last thing I did before going to start car was actually secure my battery in the trunk finally. Go to start the car and it cranks but it doesn't start. Then I go to start it again, and it doesn't crank but the starter clicks rapidly. Figure the battery is dead or something but it's only been a week since it ran, which it ran fine before all of this. Charge the battery, and the starter still clicks rapidly. At this time I noticed the high pressure braided power steering line is creating some smoke and also getting very hot. So the high pressure line is being used as a ground for some reason, and it was secured to the frame next to it with some screw in clips so it doesn't rub but I just can't figure out why it's being used as a ground. I have no idea what to do, the starter doesn't work unless the clips around the high pressure line are secured but that just doesn't make sense. Any thoughts as to why the power steering line is a ground or anything?

derass

The main ground should go from the intake manifold to the battery tray. Try using jumper cables to simulate this and see if it's the problem.

Ayomykey

just because you charged your battery doesnt mean it is going to be good after you recharge it. it could have a dead cell or just be at the end of its life cycle. any pics of what your talking about on the p/s hose mounting. if it is just bolted into the frame the line smoking isn't a cause, its an effect. Something might be sending voltage straight to ground without going through a load. check for blown fuses or any other signs of electrical shorting . if you find a blown fuse chances are there is a wire or component that is shorting to ground. Either way, dont count the battery out yet. Try jumping the car with a jumpbox or with a car charger that has high amperage start setting. Hook the clamps straight to the battery terminals after disconnecting them from the battery. Does it still not start? I've run across this a couple times at work, so more than likely you have multiple issues.

wew

Turned out to be a grounding issue. It's all fixed now.

SoundEfx

Glad it was an easy fix and you found it.

__________________

S14kouki805

Bringing this back from the dead cause I've been searching everywhere for the answer to this.

Where did you find the grounding issue???

wew

I had a braided power steering line rubbing on the frame which was grounding out, but it wasn't a good ground. All I did was take a decent size wire (don't know the gauge sorry) and just connected it to the passenger side fender area near strut tower to an area on the intake manifold. That seemed to be the fix that happened and it's been fine since.

S14kouki805

Well then I'm screwed cause I added an 8 AWG ground to the head, a 4 AWG to the intake manifold and a 2 AWG to the block.

I replaced the starter, battery, ignition switch, and checked voltage at the starter.

I'm out of ideas...the only thing I haven't done is checked amperage at the starter, which I'm not exactly sure how to do.

Every time I try to turn it on all I get is that DAMN CLICK!

S14kouki805

UPDATE:

I checked the power terminal to the starter (not the signal wire) and it was dropping from 12.5 down to about 7V, so major voltage drop. I removed the terminal and hit it with a wire wheel and reconnected and it fired up. I turned it off and wouldn't start FML.

Tried jumping it with my Yukon, putting it at 14.2V and it fires right up. Now it start intermittently. I am thinking the main battery ground is weak since my battery relocate to the trunk. I grounded it to the sheet metal in the spare tire well. any suggestions for a better ground?