Hi,
I have a 91 RS Vert with auto tranny and 305TBI.
About a little over a year ago the body shop replaced the starter they did not mention if it was new or used though.
They also replaced the battery with a new one. They could not get the car to start after that and called me out to see if I could fix it. Turned out.. the ignition/starter relay was disconnected.

Any way.....
The past few times I drove the car, I noticed the starter was slow in turning but would fire the engine. Two days ago it was really slow in starting but would fire up. Today I go out there and I get nothing! No click no nothing.

I put a volt meter to the battery and it shows 11 volts. I put the battery on the charger and after charging... it still shows 11 volts.
Put the battery back in the car and still nothing.

I checked the starter relay and the gear selector switch and they both test fine.
I also checked for codes and it did not throw any codes.

What my question is... is 11 volts enough to start the car?
My security light goes off like it should, and the infl light goes off after that. The only light that stays on the whole time is the check engine light which I think is normal since it's not throwing any codes.

At this point I'm thinking either a dead cell in the battery or the starter is shot since the slow starting symptoms a few days earlier.

At this point I'm really leaning towards the starter, but I live in a apartment complex and the rules won't allow me to jack up the car to the point where I can see if I get voltage at the starter or not.

So I guess my question is...
Should I be getting more than 11 volts out of my battery?
I'm thinking 11 volts and all the current needed to start the car is not enough. My idiot gauge in the car drops down to about 10 or less when I try to start it. Where it's usually over the 13 mark.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

from what i read i would say your battery is faulty but i, personally, would check ur alternator as well..you need your battery charger and put it on "engine start" and start your car and get a voltmeter on the battery and as soon as u get it on and have a reading take the charger off and see what the car does...i havent checkd my car but i know that my beater pos hunk of crap ford pulls 14 volts while running so thats what id look for and if u still dont have around 14 volts when you shut it off id change the battery...but im still a young buck still learnin his ways so just check it out nd do what you feel is best

best of luck to ya

 

With the engine off you should pull around 12 volts off the battery. Running it should be between 13.8 and 14.3.
Pull your battery and have it tested at your local auto store. You can also bring in your alternator but if you can get your car started with the start feature on most chargers it would be easier for you to test it yourself.