850 Turbo starter mystery

conceptchris · Post by **conceptchris** » 11 Dec 2015, 05:22

Hey guys, its been a while, but I've got myself in a situation that I can't quite figure out, any help would be really appreciated. I have a 95 850 turbo with 530K, but I have kept up on all needed repairs, runs like a champ. Well the starter was getting really slow and I knew weather wouldn't help this winter, so I have the starter rebuilt by a very well thought of auto electric shop. I was there when they bench tested it after the rebuilt, sounds great. Take it home, hook it up and put everything back together and it immediately fires up, fixed the slow start problem. I shut it off and start it another 3 times or so just to make sure all is well, it is. I go inside and clean up, come back out 15 minutes later to leave and it just clicks at me. Not the repetitive clicking like a dead battery, but the one single click and when I turn the key into the "start" position it clicks and all the dash lights go dim until I release the key to the "on" position and then the lights come back up like it is draining the power when I try to start the car. I checked my battery voltage as well as voltage at the starter and I have a constant 12.5-13 volts. I tried the screwdriver trick and bridged the power cable to the ignition wire to the starter on the solenoid and all it will do is click also. I put a charger on the battery overnight just to make sure something hadnt drained it what I had it apart, still the same click no start. What is going on here? The only thing that comes to mind is if there isn't a good ground maybe? the starter is bolted on tightly with the 2 main bolts through the bell housing. That bracket on the back side of the starter was missing the bolt to the block when I took it off to start with, so I didn't bother finding another to replace it, didn't seem that important. Thats all I can think of for info to give. Anyone have any ideas? I need to get this thing going quickly, the old beater truck won't do well as a daily driver for long. . .
Thanks in advance!
Chris

Post by **tryingbe** » 11 Dec 2015, 06:13

What shape are the ground cable and the 12v cables? What shape is the aluminum housing the ground cable is bolted on? Ground cable is from the battery to the front of the transmission towards the bottom. 12v cable is from the battery to the starter, and from the starter to alternator. Radiaotr fan also gets its power from the starter. What voltage is at the starter? Corrosion can do funny things to battery cables. Make sure all connections are clean, free of corrosion, and tight.

conceptchris · Post by **conceptchris** » 11 Dec 2015, 06:34

Well, I have checked connections at the battery/starter. The starter had worked flawlessly (just too slow) before the replacement so I didnt disconnect any of the other cables and they seem to be tight. Greasy but tight, no corrosion. Would that bracket on the back of the starter that bolts to the block be necessary as a ground or would the 2 main bolts be ground enough? Voltage at the starter is 12.5/13 volts, the exact same as at the battery itself so I didnt think there was an issue with the hot wire. . .

Post by **abscate** » 11 Dec 2015, 11:13

It sounds like the botched the rebuild. They may have skipped the solenoid, which would account for your problem, too.

Once you can't get it to spin by putting 12VDC onto the starter connection, it has to come out and be redone - not much else you can do.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Dec 2015, 11:30

I had a 93 that had the starter re-built by a well known company here in town, and they did replace the solenoid with a cheap aftermarket version. IT had an extra spade connection I didn't notice, and it shorted to the battery and alternator cables making it run all the time when the battery was re-connected. Cut it off and it then ran, but failed again 4 months later. Replaced the starte with a Bosch re-built unit and all was well. At least the old starter had a warranty but is a pin to have to remove multiple times. Replace that missing bolt too. Check though, as I have found it hasn't been left off, but a PO had stripped the thread in the block. Hard to re-thread and replace the bolt.

+1 on the checking of all the cables. Moving old cables may have been the death of them. Also make sure they are all clean, and give the cable ends at the starter a light clean with fine emery and electrical cleaner. Check the cables for corrosion at their ends in the wire position beyond the crimps/clamps. Check all the earths are also good to the engine. They do fail with age and can break off when working on the car without noticing.

Neil.