QuestionI don't know if you remember my last question, so I will elaborate some before I ask you my next question. My Saturn is an SL2, DOHC, 1.9, with 123,000 miles. The car was working fine. I drove it to a friend's house and got out for about ten minutes (the car was off). When I tried to start it again, I got the clicking noise like it wasn't getting enough juice to the starter. We popped the clutch and got the car started. The car was idling funny all the way home. It would fluctuate between 200 and 1000 RPM and would die if I took my foot off the gas. I have since replaced the alternator (which was pushing 20 amps), the battery, the positive battery cable, the starter, the clutch starter switch, and a wire that was connected to the chassis with the ground wire (I don't know the purpose for this wire, but I do know that it was broken). After doing all of this, the car still wouldn't start. I still heard the starter's infamous clicking sound. Obviously I'm not getting enough power to spin the flywheel, but I don't know why. I tested the fusible link and that doesn't seem to be the problem. When you don't have the fusible link connected, the entire car shuts down (no clicking, not lights etc..) I decided to try clutch starting the car again. To my surprise, this actually worked. I drove it around the block twice, but it continued to idle at a low RPM but didn't die when I took my foot off the gas. I pulled into the drive and let it sit for a few minutes. With a lot of hesitation, I turned the car off. When I tried cranking it again, I got the same clicking noise from the starter. Any ideas?
AnswerBobby,
Thank you again for your thoroughness.
Let me start by telling you that the fusible link is what sends energy from the alternator to the battery. If you simply check for continuity between the two ends of the wire, you will probably find it. If, however, you ohm the wire out, you will probably find extremely high resistance. The wire can still be physically intact and have internal damage. From what you describe, it sounds like the car is running on pure battery voltage alone. (If you could get an accurate reading of battery voltage, or alternator output while under load, it would help). The next thing you might want to check is the L-circuit terminal. This is the 1-wire black connector that plugs into the back of your alternator. The L-circuit is what turns the "field" on and off of your alternator. Check to see that the connector is secure in the plug, the connections are not burned out, and that the wire is not broken anywhere. Given that you have a new alternator, battery, cables and starter, this should take care of it. Of course, check all your fuses under the hood. Please tell me what you find, I am interested.
Chris
