new starter DOA

850Cal · Post by **850Cal** » 14 Aug 2006, 22:05

Well, I replaced the intermittent starter motor (mentioned in a previous post) and the new starter doesn't do anything at all! ARGHH! Everything appears to be reconnected and yet nothing happens when the key is turned.

I measured voltage at the big terminal with the 3 wires and it had a constant 12 volts. The terminal with the little connector (the solenoid actuator, I presume) has 12 volts when the key is turned to "start." I haven't checked for continuity between the 2 big terminals, I presume to be the motor terminals. I also checked the fuses and none looked bad although I couldn't find one for the starter. I even hooked up my code reader which showed no codes (the battery had been disconnected for a few days) but I reset the computer anyway. Still no crank.

Is there some kind of security lock out that may be killing the starter, or could it be a bad rebuild? It came with a sheet showing all tests Passed, but who knows what happened in shipment. Oh well, I'm just stumped and bummed that it doesn't work at all.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. D**n, a starter motor ain't rocket science...
-Cal

cocka · Post by **cocka** » 15 Aug 2006, 00:24

Could be a dud starter even though it's supposed be o.k., rebuilt or whatever, it has happened to me, cant you just get a loose battery and bridge it across the terminals on that using jumper leads to see if it actually works, or take it off and take it to a local sparkie and get it checked.

Post by **pfeener** » 15 Aug 2006, 07:27

As much of a PITA as it is, you could alway reinstall the old intermittant one and see if it works. Like you said it's not rocket science to install. I'll bet the "new" starter is NG.

850Cal · Post by **850Cal** » 15 Aug 2006, 12:07

I'm going to try putting back the old one first. I guess I'll get it back in place without all the plumbing and see what happens.

Thanks again!

850Cal · Post by **850Cal** » 15 Aug 2006, 20:33

What a goofball I am. Turns out there were 2 places to hook up the control wire to the solenoid and I had it on the wrong one. Seems there is only one contact on the original Volvo starter, and there are 2 on the NAPA rebuilt. I chose the wrong one and didn't even see the other one at the bottom. So, for anyone else buying a rebuilt starter, hook the skinny control wire to terminal 50, usually located on the bottom of the solenoid. (The other connector was labeled 15c, whatever that's good for.) Thanks again for the help!

-Cal

cocka · Post by **cocka** » 15 Aug 2006, 23:46

I take it that it fixed your problem, nice to have a victory from time to time isn't it.

No need to call yourself a goofball, it's a Volvo after all and we all seem to be on a learning curve and seem to be on it all the time.