it wont start.

ryan218 · Dec 21, 2006

our 86 GT wont start. when you turn the key all you hear is the fuel pump.....

this is the first time this has happened since we bought it.

anyone know what could be the problem?

starter bad?

also when we put the car in reverse(5 Speed Car) the reverse lights will come on sometimes and wont other times?

Thanks

bullitstang1313 · Dec 21, 2006

Does the starter turn over at all? If its not cranking there are several possible culprits. First check to see if you are getting 12v to the starter solenoid to make sure the battery connection is good. I would then check to see if you get 12v from the small wire on the solenoid when you try to crank it over. This will tell you if your ignition switch is doing its job. If no voltage then you will need to look into the ignition switch circuit to see if it is getting 12v or just not sending it to the solenoid. If you are getting 12v from the small wire then check to see if you are getting 12v to the starter.

jrichker · Dec 21, 2006

No Crank when you turn the key -
Here's a checklist:

Since some of the tests will bypass the safety interlocks, make sure that the car is in neutral and the parking brake is set. Becoming a pancake isn’t part of the repair process…

Check battery, terminal connections, ground, starter relay switch (also known as solenoid) and starter in that order. The clamp on with 2 bolts battery terminal ends are a know problem causer.

A voltmeter is handy if you are familiar with how to use it to find bad connections. Measure the voltage drop across a connection: more than .5 volts across a connection indicates a problem.
See http://www.fluke.com/application_notes/automotive/circuit.asp?AGID=1&SID=103 for help

1.) Will the car start if it is jumped? Then clean battery terminals and check battery.

2.) Check the battery to engine block ground, and the ground behind the engine to the firewall.

3.) Jump the big terminals on the starter relay next to the battery with a screwdriver - watch out for the sparks! If the engine cranks, the starter and power wiring is good. The starter relay is also known as a starter solenoid.

4.) Then pull the small push on connector (red wire) off the starter relay (Looks like it is stuck on a screw). Then jump between the screw and the terminal that is connected to the battery. If it starts, the relay is good and your problem is in the rest of the circuit.

5.) Remember to check the ignition switch, neutral safety switch on auto trans and the clutch safety switch on manual trans cars. If they are good, then you have wiring problems.
Typical start circuit...
Diagram courtesy of Tmoss &Stang&2birds

See http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195963.gif for 88-90 year cars .OR see http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195964.gif for 91-93 year cars. See http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp for 94-95 model cars.

6.) The starter may be hung, loosen up the bolts that hold it on, and give it a good whack with a big hammer. Tighten up the bolts and try again.

7.) If that doesn't work, use a jumper cable from the positive lead on the battery direct to the starter post where the big wire from the relay connects. If it cranks then, it is the power wire from the relay gone bad. This will be hard to do, since there isn't much room to do it.

8.) Pull the starter and take it to Autozone or Pep Boys and have them test it. Starter fails test, then replace it. If you got this far, the starter is probably bad.

ryan218 · Dec 21, 2006

bullitstang1313 said:
Does the starter turn over at all? If its not cranking there are several possible culprits. First check to see if you are getting 12v to the starter solenoid to make sure the battery connection is good. I would then check to see if you get 12v from the small wire on the solenoid when you try to crank it over. This will tell you if your ignition switch is doing its job. If no voltage then you will need to look into the ignition switch circuit to see if it is getting 12v or just not sending it to the solenoid. If you are getting 12v from the small wire then check to see if you are getting 12v to the starter.

i hooked up the battery to a tester we have and it says the battery is at 100% charge

12v are going to the starter solenoid, battery connection was a little corroded so i cleaned them with a wire brush, still wont start, just fuel pump kicks on.

89streetbeast · Dec 21, 2006

does the engine crank over or does it just click when you try to start it?

ryan218 · Dec 21, 2006

jrichker said:
No Crank when you turn the key -
Here's a checklist:

Since some of the tests will bypass the safety interlocks, make sure that the car is in neutral and the parking brake is set. Becoming a pancake isn’t part of the repair process…

Check battery, terminal connections, ground, starter relay switch (also known as solenoid) and starter in that order. The clamp on with 2 bolts battery terminal ends are a know problem causer.

A voltmeter is handy if you are familiar with how to use it to find bad connections. Measure the voltage drop across a connection: more than .5 volts across a connection indicates a problem.
See for help

1.) Will the car start if it is jumped? Then clean battery terminals and check battery.

2.) Check the battery to engine block ground, and the ground behind the engine to the firewall.

3.) Jump the big terminals on the starter relay next to the battery with a screwdriver - watch out for the sparks! If the engine cranks, the starter and power wiring is good. The starter relay is also known as a starter solenoid.

4.) Then pull the small push on connector (red wire) off the starter relay (Looks like it is stuck on a screw). Then jump between the screw and the terminal that is connected to the battery. If it starts, the relay is good and your problem is in the rest of the circuit.

5.) Remember to check the ignition switch, neutral safety switch on auto trans and the clutch safety switch on manual trans cars. If they are good, then you have wiring problems.
Typical start circuit...
Diagram courtesy of Tmoss &Stang&2birds

See http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195963.gif for 88-90 year cars .OR see http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195964.gif for 91-93 year cars. See http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp for 94-95 model cars.

6.) The starter may be hung, loosen up the bolts that hold it on, and give it a good whack with a big hammer. Tighten up the bolts and try again.

7.) If that doesn't work, use a jumper cable from the positive lead on the battery direct to the starter post where the big wire from the relay connects. If it cranks then, it is the power wire from the relay gone bad. This will be hard to do, since there isn't much room to do it.

8.) Pull the starter and take it to Autozone or Pep Boys and have them test it. Starter fails test, then replace it. If you got this far, the starter is probably bad.

1) no, it wont start if it jumped, battery terminals were a little oxidized so i cleaned them with a wire brush,still wont start

2) both were a little lose. tightened them up and, it cranks but wont turn over.

3)spraks flew and starter jumped- tried to start the car and it cranks but wont fire.

4)No still wont start

5)here we go, this was the problem, it started...... but now it has a surging idel and when you give it a little gas to rev it...it acts like its going to die.

got one fixed and 2 more pop up........

ryan218 · Dec 21, 2006

jrichker said:
No Crank when you turn the key -
Here's a checklist:

Since some of the tests will bypass the safety interlocks, make sure that the car is in neutral and the parking brake is set. Becoming a pancake isn’t part of the repair process…

Check battery, terminal connections, ground, starter relay switch (also known as solenoid) and starter in that order. The clamp on with 2 bolts battery terminal ends are a know problem causer.

A voltmeter is handy if you are familiar with how to use it to find bad connections. Measure the voltage drop across a connection: more than .5 volts across a connection indicates a problem.
See for help

1.) Will the car start if it is jumped? Then clean battery terminals and check battery.

2.) Check the battery to engine block ground, and the ground behind the engine to the firewall.

3.) Jump the big terminals on the starter relay next to the battery with a screwdriver - watch out for the sparks! If the engine cranks, the starter and power wiring is good. The starter relay is also known as a starter solenoid.

4.) Then pull the small push on connector (red wire) off the starter relay (Looks like it is stuck on a screw). Then jump between the screw and the terminal that is connected to the battery. If it starts, the relay is good and your problem is in the rest of the circuit.

5.) Remember to check the ignition switch, neutral safety switch on auto trans and the clutch safety switch on manual trans cars. If they are good, then you have wiring problems.
Typical start circuit...
Diagram courtesy of Tmoss &Stang&2birds

See http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195963.gif for 88-90 year cars .OR see http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195964.gif for 91-93 year cars. See http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp for 94-95 model cars.

6.) The starter may be hung, loosen up the bolts that hold it on, and give it a good whack with a big hammer. Tighten up the bolts and try again.

7.) If that doesn't work, use a jumper cable from the positive lead on the battery direct to the starter post where the big wire from the relay connects. If it cranks then, it is the power wire from the relay gone bad. This will be hard to do, since there isn't much room to do it.

8.) Pull the starter and take it to Autozone or Pep Boys and have them test it. Starter fails test, then replace it. If you got this far, the starter is probably bad.

1) no, it wont start if it jumped, battery terminals were a little oxidized so i cleaned them with a wire brush,still wont start

2) both were a little lose. tightened them up and, it cranks but wont turn over.

3)spraks flew and starter jumped- tried to start the car and it cranks but wont fire.

4)No still wont start

5)here we go, this was the problem, it started...... but now it has a surging idel and when you give it a little gas to rev it...it acts like its going to die.

got one fixed and 2 more pop up........

ryan218 · Dec 21, 2006

89streetbeast said:
does the engine crank over or does it just click when you try to start it?

got it to start.(netrul saftey switch) but now it has a surging idel like it will pop up from 500 to 750 to 1,000 back to 500 and on and when you give it gas to rev it...it bogs and acts like it is going to stall unless you put it to the floor for a second(fuel injectors dirty?)

89streetbeast · Dec 21, 2006

almost sounds like the tps is out of whack

795.0pacecar · Dec 21, 2006

Check the grounds, corroded grounds can cause similar symptoms.

jrichker · Dec 21, 2006

See "Help me create the Surging Idle Checklist" at http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=534062
for help with your idle problems. The first post contains all the updates to the fixes. I continue to update it as more people post fixes or ask questions.

ryan218 · Dec 22, 2006

ok guys i got it, thanks alot for the help.

MAC'n89Blckstng · Dec 22, 2006

Did you try the ol jumping of the starter solenoid with the screw driver crossed the two posts on the solenoid.

ryan218 · Dec 22, 2006

MAC'n89Blckstng said:
Did you try the ol jumping of the starter solenoid with the screw driver crossed the two posts on the solenoid.

it was the netural saftery switch.

it wont start.

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