1986 TPI trans am.


ok so just started last night I had a problem where I would turn the key on and the car would not start, so I go to check stuff out under the hood. I jiggle the wires to the starter and it starts than dies right off, so I jiggle the wires again and all the starter does is click click click but faster than normal. I wiggle the wires again, the car starts and gets me home.... so out of curiosity I try to start and shes dead again and notice the battery was hitting less than 8 volts on my guage while I leave my key on enginge off I jiggle the wires again, I go back and look at the guage my guage says 12.5 I try to start and it clicks again.. .. this battle goes on for a little bit.. I than grab a screw driver and with the key on engine off I connect the power post on the starter solenoid and connect it with the little post on the starter solenoid and it starts.... I than turn it off and my buddy comes over to help. as hes looking I go to start it and he sees smoke coming from the main power post from the starter solenoid as it clicks. tried it again theres more smoke. I confirmed it my self every time we go to start it there is white smoke coming from the main power post on the solenoid and all it does is click...


would this be a starter problem? I did notice that just before this started happening as the car was starting I kept hearing the clicking noise as it was turning over, (like when your battery is low and its cold outside it clicks as it turns over but fast because my battery is good.)


any idea? im replacing the starter today but wanted any other ideas to look at... it is a new starter so it has a warranty.


thanks

 

Your description sounds like the classic loose/dirty connection with a bit of arcing going on for good measure .

Disconnect one battery post (I usually disconnect the negative) and then take the big wire off of the starter , clean the end of the wire where the starter's bolt goes through the eyelet with a small fine wire brush , clean the rest of the wires that go to the same big starter bolt , and for good measure carefully clean the starter bolt itself where the wire ends make contact with it , and then put it back together , tight but no so tight as to be stripping the threads , and finally reconnect your battery .

Bet it starts fine if your cleaning/tightening job reestablishes good electrical contact ...

 

ok so up date i think i fixed it.... i replaced my started and it starts and runs no problem. . Ilso replaced my alternator pulley with a march performance overdrive pulley... ..

thanks

 

 

for my issue it was the whole starter in its self.. i also cleand up the ground cables on the block from the batter. Also double check, make sure none of the wires are touching anything hot like headers.

 

 

A psh button starter won’t cause a draw. You can do a parasitic draw test to find s draw. A ecm will draw 1/2 a amp any more draw than that you will drain the battery faster.

 

Thanks a lot appreciate it.

 

It's me again, my battery was drained so I got it charged and it ran good for a while after. Today i went to start it and it was a really slow click i can just hear the gear in the starter turning slowly checked the voltage and its 11.8 its kinda borderline but I feel it should start. The problem the starter for sure now?

 

With my issue i had a short somewhere in the starter.. replaced the whole starter and was good to go... that sucks your running into that problem.