Help with mini starter please

[65and68Stang]

Hi Gang,

Had a problem starting the car yesterday. It has started flawlessly for six months, no problems. Started great yesterday morning and drove her to a meeting. After a four hour meeting, came out to leave and when I turned the switch, "clunk." Hmmm. Popper out the voltmeter and had 12v on the battery. Checked both large posts on the solenoid, 12v. Anyway, I got a push, clutch-started her and drove home with no problems. Pulled in the garage, cut her off, hit the key again, "clunk."

Again, I checked the battery and solenoid, and had 12v everywhere. So I climbed underneath and checked the starter. There are two leads, one large one that goes to the positive terminal on the battery which measured 12v. There is another smaller lead that goes to the large switched post on the solenoid. It measures 0 with the ignition switch off/acc and measures 12v when the key is turned to start. But nothing from the starter.

I pulled the starter and checked that the bendix could rotate freely in both directions and ensured that the spring allowed the bendix to extend and retract correctly, and all that checks out okay.

I wanted to check with you all to see if there is anything else I can check? Or is my starter dead? Are there any serviceable parts on this starter?

Or...is everything wired wrong? I did not wire the starter, it was in the car when I got her. Here is how everything is wired:

Positive battery (heavy gauge battery cable) to large post on starter
Positive battery (14 gauge wire built into battery cable head) to large solenoid post closest to the battery
Small starter post to large solenoid post furthest from the battery

Thanks for your help!!

Kelton

 

[thehueypilot]

Check your starter solenoid front two push on terminal connections "S" and "I". They tend to expand and loose their connections over time. Re-crimp the barrel of each push on connector for a more positive connection. Hope this helps.

 

[Swede958]

Check the battery for cranking amperage as well, a battery can have a full charge but no amps and amps is what the starter draws to turn. Also, depending on it's health it could be the starter... you can test it at home, but I would recommend a switched tester that most autoparts stores use. It applies 12 volts directly to both terminals off the vehicle, might be freezing up on ya? If you want the 'quickie-hispanic-mechanic' way as we call it here in texas, with it in the car-tap/bang on the starter botdy with a hammer while someone turns the key, it'll free up the brushes inside the starter and turn it.

THe Swede

 

[Max Power]

If it worked for six months and suddenly failed, I seriously doubt that you have it wired wrong.

 

[65and68Stang]

Thanks for the responses guys!

Max Power, I was just wondering if maybe it had been wired wrong and over time the incorrect wiring had caused the starter to fail. I did some more checking last night though and found that it is wired basically the same way as all the other mini starter users, so it looks like no problems there.

But! I did take the starter in to my mechanic who took the integrated solenoid cover off and found a broken wire. It wasn't burnt, just broken, which was weird. Anyway, he soldered it back and it bench tested fine after that. I'm planning on reinstalling tonight and hopefully everything will be back to normal.

Thanks again!

Kelton

 

[Max Power]

I have found that usually, especially on simple circuits without complex capicitors and such, that if the wiring will cause a failure, it will do it spectacularily and immediately!