Starter problem

[black'vert]

New to the board, have a tech question.

my 89 gt 5.0 5 speed just developed this problem last night. When I go to start the car, the starter hits the flywheel but will not rotate the engine. The battery is a new optima red top and the terminals were replaced so I don't think it is a lack of power. Could it be a solenoid problem or is my starter *****d?


I am somewhat new to the ford scene being a recovering GM addict

 

[HISSIN50]

might try some troubleshooting. first off, even though you have a new battery, i would hook up a jumper (like jump starting the car) and try it. also check your cables (not sure what you mean by new terminals). also make sure your motor ground(s) are good to go (if the starter does not have good ground, not enough juice flows - flow is from ground to pos).
you can also try jumping the solenoid lugs, on the off chance that the solenoid is not creating a good enough bridge for the juice (very unlikely). you can also do a voltage drop test on the starter cable to make sure it is up to the task.
you could yank the starter and have it bench tested.

good luck.

 

[87'GTstang]

(if the starter does not have good ground, not enough juice flows - flow is from ground to pos).

Dang, not too many people actually know that! But try as Hissin has said first. Starters do wear out overtime but unless something flat out broke on it, it doesn;t do it instantly. A problem i've seen a few times is do to the old anti-PMGR starters, the driving teeth on the starter can jam on the flywheel/flexplate and become logged. Another problem of the same sort is the the teeth on the flywheel/flexplate are worn out/chipped/damaged. What types of sounds do you get when attempting to start? Also a major overlook - make sure everything is tightened down and well-secured.

*By terminals hissin, I believe he means the connectors that attaches the lead cables to the battery.

 

[HISSIN50]

Dang, not too many people actually know that!

*By terminals hissin, I believe he means the connectors that attaches the lead cables to the battery.

thanks for the little bit of props! back atcha

i figured he meant just terminals, but thought i would ask (along the lines of his cables having degraded/rotted on the inside). i kinda covered that with a drop test (although an amp drop test would be best, since one can have volts w/o the amps to back it up).

you had some real nice ideas that i did not think of (ring gear problem, etc).

 

[black'vert]

Forgot to mention that I have tried to arc the solenoid and the same thing happens, so the solenoid isn't bad. I smacked it with a mini-sledge incase it was locked up and nothing..... tightened all of the terminals and still no beans.