Pontiac Repair: 1984 Pontiac Fiero Starter issues?, digital voltage meter, 1984 pontiac fiero

Question


Hello there. Hope you can point me in a right direction. I have a 1984 Pontiac Fiero it is 2.5L with an auto tranny and no air. The starter on the car failed and was a remand. I live in Canada and is looking for a starter that will work with the car. So far I have bought a brand x starter and the car didn't start. The starter would just spin. I spent the money and bought a brand new Hitachi starter and I get the same outcome. Bought off 2 different stores. Both told me there the right starter for the car. The teeth on the ring gear are all there and fine on the engine. Any ideas what is going on?

Thanks for the help.

Ian  

Answer
Hey Ian:

did the original started do the exact same thing? I know you said all the aftermarket ones you bough were just spinning the starter but not enguaging the gear into the flywheel. Does it grind whjen it tried to engauge or does the motor just spin? Id that's the case that it just spins I would suspect an issue where the starter solenoid is not getting a full shot of battery voltage to allow the starter solenoid to pull the bendix out into the flywheel. It take far less amperage/voltage to close the solenoid contacts to engauge the motor than neede to pull the bendix out. what I would do is check the voltage at the "crank" wire purple at the starter motor while someone is cranking the car. You should have the same voltage as what is at the battery. you need a digital voltage meter to check this. if it's far less then you have high resistance somewhere in the "crank signal" either the park neutral switch or the ignition switch or a corroded wire. If it grinds when you try to start it then the starter motor need to be shimmed. alo lot of aftermarket motors come with shims in the box and they go between the motor and the engine block. Hope that helps you out. Good luck :)