Well just got my car out of the shop for a third time. and now it won't start. it started up and drove fine then one morning NOTHING. battery is good gas station checked it. the starter was rebuilt, this is 3 times. anything cause starters to go bad this quickly 3 in about 7 months????????

 

what car? I'm guessing from your handle that it's an 83-something. If it's older than 88, we can rule out the VATS system.

Other things to look for are neutral switch (auto) or clutch switch (manual)

How good are the battery connections? They could need to be cleaned.

 

My car is a 1988 5.0 tbi and 5 speed tranny. new battery new connectors

 

does it have VATS? You will know by the little black resistor in your ignition key if it has it or not.

If it does, look at your "security" lamp in the instrument panel. It should come on for about 2 seconds when you turn the key on, and then it should go out. If it never comes on, or if it comes on and stays on, then the VATS system is keeping your car from starting.

 

no VATS system. no clue what's wrong with it

 

try putting a voltmeter on the starter solenoid, and check to see if it's getting power when the ignition switch is turned to start.

If it's not getting power, that can rule out starter problems.

 

Starters do not usually fail that soon of course. A competent mechanic wouldn't be changing the same part three times without figuring out what the real problem is. Sounds like the real problem is being overlooked. You should also check all your engine ground wires and their connections as this is often a source of intermittent starting problems.

good luck!

 

Well thanx guys, competent mechanics here in germany what are you guys thinking???? i took my car to a couple of shops most didn't even know what it was, "das es americanish sport car????" is usually what i get. well i checked for an engine groung wire and i don't see one where would this be located???? back of the engine. i i get a wire where do i ground it to the firewall???? due to the strict german laws i can't work on my car here in my parking garage or in a parking lot you have to go to a mechanic and rent his space. i really don't have much time now we are having this little Iraq crisis. please help me guys i'm ready to blow it up and be done with it.

 

They won't let you do anything to the car? That's harsh. I would have thought if you don't jack it up, or do any big disassembly, no one would care.

The engine ground strap is located behind the passenger side cylinder head. I bet you could check it's connections without causing a stir.

Another quick way you could test engine ground is to run a jumper cable (just the negative) from the battery negative post, to somewhere on the engine itself where you can get a good connection. That may not give enough current to start the car, but if it at least gets closer (ie. starter at least tries, or clicks, instead of nothing), that will tell you a poor ground is the fault.


If you end up having to take it to a mechanic, I'd find a different one. like dans_zed said, any competent mechanic should have solved a no-crank problem by now.

 

hey appreciate it. get this i'd figure i'd just try to start it"can't hurt to try and it cranked up the second try. first time it was a little hesitant second right up!!!! wtf is wrong with this thing????? swear i've had nothing but problems and no germans can help. I HATE GERMANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

hey there...I'm german


well, maybe not. My ancestors came to America some century and a half ago (I know this because our farm's been in the family that long, and maw's one of them "family-tree" nuts. The whole damn little town I live in is frickin german, and they make some kinda big deal out of it. Businesses and things in town have german signs on them and ****. Stuff like "das Bibliothek" instead of just a sign that says," this is the damn library"

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

I took 2 years of it in high school. I frikken pissed me off that all the nouns have genders. How gay is that? words with genders. And what about "the". It has to be der, das, die, den, etc. how many damn words do you have to have to say "the"

Aren't intermittent problems the bitch? How ironic is it? You have this problem, and then, next thing, your sitting there, pissed of at your car, because it's working again. funny eh?


edit: I almost forgot. The annual beer gardens make it all worth it

 

i picked up a little bit of german mostly working with the POLIZEI. the annual beer gardens are great(octoberfest,heinerfest) we had quit a bit of riots at the heinerfest, lost of fights and broken glass< it was a long long night. but i will try the jumper cable thing i'm currently looking for a new mechanic. will keep you posted.

 

a thirdgen ignition switch harness color code guide is avaliable here:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/thirdgen/alarminfo