QuestionI was trying to finally start my engine after it hasnt been started all winter and nothing happens. Everything's hooked back up. I turn the key to the on position and the Gen and other one, cnat remeber which it is, comes on and when i turn to crank it doesnt crank. Any solutions?
AnswerHi, James - you must be one of my best 'customers'!
There are probably 1001 possible causes for this. Let's start with the most basic.
Try your starter while you watch the dome light (Leave the door open so it stays on). If it goes out while you are in the "start" position, your battery cable ends are dirty. Disconnect the battery cables and clean EVERYTHING - the battery posts, the cable end inside metal parts, etc. If you have battery cable replacement ends (the clamp on type), take them all apart and clean everything there also. You need to replace these, they'll fail again. Buy the right cables and do it back the way the factory did it!
If your dome light stays on while you are in the "Start: position, listen for a "click" from the area of the starter. If you don't hear it, try rapping on the starter solenoid. If you still don't hear it after that, you'll need to get a voltmeter or a test light, and monitor the "S" terminal on the starter solenoid (one of the two smaller wires - it has an "S" by it on the end cap) to see if you have 12 volts there when you are in the "Start" position. If you do, the solenoid is bad.
If you don't, either your ignition switch has quit on you, or there is a bad connection somewhere between the ignition switch "S" terminal and the "S" terminal on the starter solenoid. That should be the same point, electrically. So if you have 12 volts on the ignition switch "S" terminal, and not on the solenoid "S" terminal, you know a wire has come undone somewhere. Probably in the firewall bulkhead connector.
Good Luck, let me know how you make out.
Dick.
