Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 16:41:51 -0700 From: DHG <dhgoldnopsamell.net> Subject: Re: '88 9000T - no start when hot
"Scott I. Remick" wrote: > Sorry... could not find original message, so I'm replying at this point > in the thread. > > I think I know what this is, because I had the EXACT same problem on my > '84 900S which plagued me for over a year until I got to the bottom of > it. It took me that long because it was so intermittent, but finally > started happening frequently enough for me to troubleshoot it. > > It wasn't the starter, and it wasn't the ignition switch (both got > replaced at one point). After a while I learned that when it happened I > could use a screwdriver to short two terminals on the starter and get her > going (sure beats pop-starting). > > I don't know what the wiring is like in your 9000T, but after replacing > my ignition switch (on my own) and discovering that that wasn't it, I > left the plastic cover off the center console between the seats so that I > could get at the wires when it wouldn't start and test things. Keeping a > multimeter in the car, I determined that when it was hot, there was a > short in the wire that went from the switch to the starter. Somewhere it > was shorting against ground and electricity was "leaking"... sometimes > just a little so there was hesitation after turning the key before the > starter turned, or sometimes a lot where it wouldn't start at all (I > would get lights and power everywhere else). > > As it got increasingly worse (more frequent), there were a few times > where shorting the terminals on the starter wouldn't even do the trick > (the starter would turn, but it wouldn't start). It occurred to me that > I was doing this with the wire that was shorting STILL ATTACHED (duh) and > it could've been that enough electricity was leaking that it couldn't get > going. I tried unplugging the wire from the starter first then shorting > the terminals, and sure enough... it started. I then compared the > resistance to ground from that end of the wire to the resistance from the > ignition switch, and determined that the short was closer to the starter. > > THIS PAST SATURDAY, I ran a test run of 12-gauge wire from the ignition > switch to the starter, crimped new insulated female-spade connectors on > each end and attached them in place of the existing wire. I haven't had > a single instance of hesitation or non-starting since. Granted, it's > been only a few days, but I believe I've solved it for good. > > Best of luck to you... this one was a bitch for me and it frustrated me > for a LONG TIME. > ----------------------- > Scott I. Remick scottnopsamuteralt.com > Network and Information (802)388-7545 ext. 236 > Systems Manager FAX:(802)388-3697 > Computer Alternatives, Inc. http://www.computeralt.com You were a lot smarter (and luckier?) than me. It took me several years and hundreds of dollars before a mechanic arrived at the above solution for my '89 9000CD. I had already replaced the alarm system, neutral safety switch, starter, ignition switch, battery, etc. Since apparently resistance increases with heat, he reasoned that maybe the resistance in the wire running from the ignition to the starter just got too high in hot weather. So, similar to you, he clamped on a parallel cable running from the ignition to the starter, reasoning that the current would take the path of least resistance. He did that earlier this summer and I haven't had a problem since! After years of internmittent hot weather starting problems I am very, very relieved. It was a problem I didn't think I would ever get solved. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a hot weather starting problem.........and it's a heck of a lot quicker and cheaper than most of the alternatives. dhg P.S. Middlebury must be beautiful right now....I used to drive through all the time on my many trips between Montpelier/Burlington and Rutland/Castleton.
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