Starting Trouble (kinda long but PLEASE read!)

[DanHool]

its the solenoid...! i pee pee'd

[86VickyLX]

Hey Chuck Norris,

Just a thought have you tried round house kicking it :P

When in doubt, hammer out!

[drock96marquis]

92.5+ all have the integrated solenoid



Terminal corrosion of the solenoid turn-on lead is common. Pull it off, clean, and reinstall with LOTS of dielectric grease

Also check battery connections + grounds. If it worked suddenly with the jump it could be as simple as a loose battery terminal clamp.....

[Chuck Norris]

Well, interesting thing. I posted this weeks ago, and have had the problem a few times since (haven't fixed anything though.) Well, I decided next time I had the problem I'd try wiggling the key to see if maybe it is ignition related. So every time since I got stuck and made this post, I have wiggled the kay and tried the ignition again. It has worked every time! So, tumbler assembly? Ignition switch? It seems to kind of rule out the starter assembly selinoid, doesn't it?

[1987cp]

Werd! Yes, this would seem to point to a minor electrical problem in the vicinity of the ignition switch itself. Perhaps either something's loose inside, or there could even be loose or corroded wiring going to the integrated start switch (my older one has a single wire going off the outer part of the switch assembly near the keyhole, that's intended to go to the primary side of the start circuit). I don't know much, but based on this new information, I'd guess a $15 ignition switch just might be all that's needed to solve your problems! Maybe it'd be possible to temporarily jury-rig a pushbutton or something as a redundant measure to double-check that that's really what it is? Just my

[Chuck Norris]

Werd! Yes, this would seem to point to a minor electrical problem in the vicinity of the ignition switch itself. Perhaps either something's loose inside, or there could even be loose or corroded wiring going to the integrated start switch (my older one has a single wire going off the outer part of the switch assembly near the keyhole, that's intended to go to the primary side of the start circuit). I don't know much, but based on this new information, I'd guess a $15 ignition switch just might be all that's needed to solve your problems! Maybe it'd be possible to temporarily jury-rig a pushbutton or something as a redundant measure to double-check that that's really what it is? Just my

Pushbutton start... sweeeeet!

[1987cp]

Hehehe... yeah, pushbutton start does work ... of course, I only have it on the '87 because I fried the factory start switch, and I do plan to swap it back at some point because it's a bit of a pain and a little counterintuitive to operate with the factory switch still in place.

Funny thing about starting systems, my '79 (so far as I know) still had its original starter motor when I bought the thing, and since it showed no sign of causing me any trouble, I reinstalled it when I put in the newer engine, transmission, etc. Well, today my wife and I went out to go to the grocery store just before leaving to visit my dad for Father's Day and decided to pop into Home Depot for a minute beforehand ..... and guess what? That silly 28-year-old starter motor decided to call it quits right there in the parking lot and refused to start the car when we came out to tootle over to the grocery store! Not a humongous deal, of course, since the problem was solved with about 45 minutes of my time and a $38 expenditure at the parts store (wouldn't you know, I didn't bother to bring along my spare starter last time I was down at my mom's house) ..... but what an inconvenient place/time for that to happen! :p

[Chuck Norris]

..... but what an inconvenient place/time for that to happen! :p

Aren't cars great!?!

[1987cp]

Absolutely! I like cars, but I still really, really wish we could get a little less dependent on the silly contraptions.

[seneeb]

at that point, just have a switch panel that controls battery to the ignition (and pcm in this case) another switch controlling power to fuel, then a pushbutton and just get rid of teh factory setup!


muahahhahahahaa

course, probably wouldnt work that good on a non carbed engine

[1987cp]

I'd thought about that, but there's still the column lock/gear selector lock and such. In such a case, would the column lock just be eliminated?

[seneeb]

you can remove it (or break it) it's just a small rod attached to a solenoid