Well I am at a loss. What I thought was the starter, showed all the signs of a starter, wasn't the starter. Just put in the LT4 starter, connected the battery and same problem. Just a single click when I turn the key. Checked all my fuses, they are fine. Voltage is fine, battery is good. Yet the thing just refuses to even attempt to start. What could the problem be? This wasn't a developing problem, just the morning that it happened, I drove the car to school, ran fine, perfectly normal. Any suggestions are welcome.

-J

 

This would be the first place i would look, Red box above batt. check all the connections, and also double check yourself on the starter install. Also check the ground from the batt. cable. Batt. Cable Ground

 

Any hidden burnt wires? I just found a set of burnt ones..what a happy surprise Sure the starter is getting power?

-Dustin-

 

I'll check those things tomorrow. Also not sure if it matters but I was doing a lot of searching and saw that it could possibly be related to the VATS system? When I turn the key to the on position, but don't crank it, the SECURITY light just keeps blinking and blinking and blinking. I never paid attention to it before, so I can't remember if it did that or not. Also read about the clutch start switch I have to have a look at that.

-J

 

Bump, any suggestions welcome. So far I've got a few things onthe list to lookat this weekend...

-Try a fresh key see if it's the contacts on mine
-Bypass key cylinder as shown here... http://shbox.com/1/air_bag_disc_2.jpg
-Bypass the VATS relay near the glovebox (yellow+purple wire)
-Check the battery yet again, make sure that I'm not missing anything
-Check my alternator
-Check every damn fuse in the car
-Check ground and positives as per the pic in the first response (thanks!)

Missing anything important?

-J

 

Your problem is relatively simple. You are not getting enough current to the starter. Either you have a bad or low battery or a wiring issue. You say you checked the battery. How? Just putting a volt meter across the terminals means nothing. You have to load it down. Check the voltage across the battery when someone is turning the key to start. Be sure the voltage doesn't go less than 11 volts. A battery can be bad, or it can be being discharged when it is not supposed to be. Or it's possible it is not being charged up by the alternator. Again, not charging properly could be an alternator or wiring issue. To check the charging system yourself, start the engine and confirm you have about 14 volts across the battery.

Also, to confirm a wiring issue, try jumping with a cable directly from the battery to the starter. Don't forget you could have an issue with positive OR ground. The other wires you should check are the braided ground strap from the engine to the frame as well as the those listed above. Don't just look at them, take them off, clean them shiney and retighten them.

If you had an issue with the VATS the security light in the dash would either be flashing or on steady and it didn't sound that way from what you described.

 

Thanks, what I meant is yes, I'm going to actually have the battery load tested. Yesterday odd thing happened, I was messing around, turning the key on and off (to the KOEO position, not start), when all of a sudden I heard what sounded like the starter engaging. It did it after MANY turns, and if I waited a few seconds in between turns it wouldn't do it again. Not sure if it means anything, maybe it had barely enough power to engage it but not enough to finish? Thanks,.

-J