A few months ago I replaced my original ignition switch in my car, it had finally gone after about 20 years. Well after that, there were no problems for about 4-5 months. Whenever I went to start the car, I had to first put the key all the way back, and then go into the crank position to get the car to start, but I didn't consider that a big deal. About a month ago, every once in a great while, i'd go to crank the car and nothing would happen, just like a bad ignition switch. However, i'd try again, an it'd crank right over and start right up.

Recently though, the car won't crank no matter what. It does what it was doing before when the switch was bad, absolutely nothing at all. Every once in a while (10 tries or so) I can get it to crank one time. It'll just turn over for a second and then stop again. This makes me think there's a poor ground somewhere in the system.

I've checked all the grounds going to the starter/solenoid and everything checks out, and the battery is fully charged. Are there any other grounds I should check? I could drop the column down, are there any grounds there that would cause the problem? And is there any chance it's not a ground at all, but the switch actually went bad again?

All help is appreciated, and if anyone has some schematics that might help, i'd apprecaite that also.

-Thanks, Brandon

 

There are no grounds involved in cranking other than the big fat one from the battery to the engine. I would hook up a couple of temporary indicator lights, one at the ignition switch itself, and one at the starter. Then you'd immediately see where the juice is lacking when you crank. Both should light when you turn the key. If they do and the starter doesn't crank then the starter is at fault. If only the one at the starter is dark then it's a wiring fault. If both are dark then it's the switch.

 

Sounds like a plan, i'm busy all day tomorrow, but I should be able to get to it tomorrow night or thursday. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Sorry it's taken so long to get back, i've just been swamped with stuff to do. With job hunting, graduation parties, family matters, and baseball, i've had no time for my car.

Anyways, last night I finally got around to it. I dropped the column and I pulled the ignition switch. I had an extra one sitting around so I threw that in. Now when I crank it, I hear one click and then nothing happens again, but this is consistant and it happens everytime, so I don't think the ignition switch is the problem. So voltage is definitely getting to the starter, but there's also a click, so that leaves me to believe the solenoid is working just fine as well.

Anyone have any ideas on where I should look next?

-Thanks, Brandon

 

Ok, so your ignition switch was bad or misadjusted, but it seems you have a problem with the starter itself also.
You can try to diagnose it with an indicator light hooked up to the second big post on the starter (not the one from the battery, but the one going into the starter). If it lights when you turn the key then the brushes are worn out. If it doesn't then the Bendix is not moving freely enough to close the contacts.
There are actually two windings inside the Bendix solenoid. One is a pull-in winding (connected to the armature) and the other is a holding winding (connected to ground).
The click you hear is from the holding winding only.
You can also try to give the starter a whack and see if it turns over then. It'll behave like that if the brushes are worn out, not giving the pull-in winding any current.
I had an old French car once that was like that. I could get it to start by whacking it, or jumpstarting it with a screwdriver. My solution was to "amplify" the current going from the key to the solenoid with a relay near the starter/ battery. Worked like a charm for many years.
The bottom line is however that I think your starter needs an overhaul.

 

I pulled my starter and my friend had and extra SBC starter so I shimmed it and threw it in. Sure enough it turns over and starts just fine now, so I guess i'll be either rebuilding the starter, or just buying a remanufactured one.

-Thanks for the help, Brandon