No crank, just click. Replaced starter, still no crank.. help!!

**Steve98GTP** · 01-13-2013

So i noticed my car laboring to turn over as of recently.. i would have to hold the key forward for 10 seconds before it would catch and fire up. At this point it was cranking, just very slowly.. i figured my starter was dying after making sure my battery was OK.

I've replaced the starter, and now all i get is a click when i turn the key. Not sure where to go from here. I read in another thread i may be looking at an ignition switch.. is this fairly easy to replace? I haven't come across a write up for one.

Anyone have this problem before?

I should add... vehicle is a 98 GTP.

**DirtDog** · 01-13-2013

When u say u hear a click is the click coming from the starter? If it is than id say ur battery is to weak to and not giving it enough power to turn the engine over to start. Try jump starting it

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**dsmuts** · 01-13-2013

Your battery or battery connections are bad. A starter usually works or it doesn't.

**Steve98GTP** · 01-13-2013

Originally Posted by dsmuts

Your battery or battery connections are bad. A starter usually works or it doesn't.

I tried jump starting it, thought that would remove the battery as the problem. Could it still be the connections? My positive terminal bolt is really rounded and not the tightest... I bought a replacement bolt, but can't figure out how to get the old one out of the plastic housing.. Do i have to replace the whole cable?

Thanks for the quick response

**Steve98GTP** · 01-13-2013

Originally Posted by marines542

When u say u hear a click is the click coming from the starter? If it is than id say ur battery is to weak to and not giving it enough power to turn the engine over to start. Try jump starting it

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It's a very loud click, haven't identified where exactly it's coming from. I'll go out and investigate today.

**dsmuts** · 01-13-2013

If you have a loose connection that could be your problem. They wiggling the wires while someone starts the car.

**Logan541** · 01-13-2013

Yep sounds like battery, or connections remove the connections and just use a vise grip to grab that bolt and wiggle it out

**dsmuts** · 01-13-2013

The rubber terminal cover peels back to pull the bolt out

**Steve98GTP** · 01-13-2013

Originally Posted by dsmuts

The rubber terminal cover peels back to pull the bolt out

Cool, sounds good. And i checked, it is the start making the click. Doesn't start in neutral either. I'll throw the new bolt in there hope that makes a difference!!

**DirtDog** · 01-13-2013

My buddys truck that we replaced the starter in awhile back would make a click but wouldnt turn the engine over. we replaced the starter solenoid still click no start...we replaced the starter its self and it turned over once not enough to start. we then took all batter wires loose and wire brushed the crap out of them and bada bang it started...lots of wasted money. thats just my .02 im definitely not a mechanic though but try wire brushing all the terminals

**Scottydoggs** · 01-13-2013

Originally Posted by Steve98GTP

Cool, sounds good. And i checked, it is the start making the click. Doesn't start in neutral either. I'll throw the new bolt in there hope that makes a difference!!

give the starter body a good few shots with a hammer then try to start it up, if you have someone who can turn the key while you beat the starter even better.

if it cranks after beating it, the starter is bad. it may continue to work but it will be temporary.

**Steve98GTP** · 01-14-2013

Originally Posted by marines542

My buddys truck that we replaced the starter in awhile back would make a click but wouldnt turn the engine over. we replaced the starter solenoid still click no start...we replaced the starter its self and it turned over once not enough to start. we then took all batter wires loose and wire brushed the crap out of them and bada bang it started...lots of wasted money. thats just my .02 im definitely not a mechanic though but try wire brushing all the terminals

I did that tonight. Took off the terminal bolts, brushed the **** out of the contacts and the battery contacts, and put new terminal bolts on it. Still just clicks on when i turn over.

give the starter body a good few shots with a hammer then try to start it up, if you have someone who can turn the key while you beat the starter even better.

if it cranks after beating it, the starter is bad. it may continue to work but it will be temporary.

Tried that too.. it's a brand new starter so i'm assuming its working. Hit it with a hammer a bit, no change.

Just to verify, this is the correct wire setup right? Purple on to the small starter terminal, everything else to the big one on top (None on the bottom one, which comes with the nut fitted)

011313_2200[00].jpg

**BillBoost37** · 01-14-2013

Looks correct. Have you taken the battery in and had it tested? Might seem fine all other ways, until it's required to have a lot of power to turn the motor over. I've seen this on batteries etc when one cell starts to go bad.

The loud click, you'll likely find out is the starter being pushed forward by the solenoid. Then there isn't enough power left to spin the starter.

**Steve98GTP** · 01-14-2013

Just put a new battery in... still nothing. I'm stumped

**Scottydoggs** · 01-14-2013

you check the ground wire on the trans bell housing yet? make sure its tight, and no broken wires, there should be 3 wires there. the fat battery neg cable, and 2 smaller ones.

**DirtDog** · 01-14-2013

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

you check the ground wire on the trans bell housing yet? make sure its tight, and no broken wires, there should be 3 wires there. the fat battery neg cable, and 2 smaller ones.

Hey Scott...question what are the other two wires on the starter. I know one is obviously the positive but what's the other one

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**Scottydoggs** · 01-14-2013

they are other main grounds for the harness i suppose.

another member had one of the smaller wires break off the end loop and the car failed to start.

its worth a free look.