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Re: engine won't turn Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Wed, 28 Feb 2001 11:53:17
In Reply to: engine won't turn, Dave, Wed, 28 Feb 2001 06:09:21 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
If the engine won't turn over, it isn't the DI - the DI is only ignition, not the starter.
Turn the headlights on, and try and start the car. First, do you hear any clicks behind the dash? Any clicks from the engine compartment? When you turn the key to START, to the lights stay bright, dim a little, or go out?
If the lights go out, check your battery cables and clamps. That is the classic sign of a massive voltage drop. Pull the clamps off the battery posts and clean the inside of the clamp and the battery post with some fine sandpaper. Look into the battery cables at the ends - do you see a lot of white or greenish powder? If so, replace the cables. Make sure the ground cable connection to the chassis is good. Remember, the current flows through the part of the connection between the wire or clamp and metal - you can't see that part! So if you suspect a problem, pull it off and clean the contact surfaces. No amount of spraying with magic contact cleaner will cure a bad connection between to surfaces butt up against each other.
If that doesn't do it, and the lights still go out, there are failure modes in batteries where they will put out plenty of voltage, just no current. Turn the headlights on, turn the car to ON (not start), turn the fan on HIGH, and put your foot on the brakes. The lights should dim, but still stay on. If the lights go out, then you know the battery has an internal problem where it can source enough current to run lights, but not to start the car. Have the battery checked by a shop, and replace if necessary.
OK - the car doesn't turn over, and the lights Don't dim. Suspect the ignition switch. If the contacts of the switch in the START position are poor, you won't start. This one can be tricky, because it could be the ignition switch, or a bad solenoid, or possibly a bad starter. Here is where a schematic comes in handy.
So report back - what do the headlights do when you try and turn the engine over?
, Wed, 28 Feb 2001 11:53:17 <-- Viewing This Message
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