vonbeck265

I just put a new starter in my 89 formula, shimmed it and all and it wont start. The starter is engageing and the alternator moves a little but it wont turn over. Any thoughts?

slowmaro87

when you say it wont turn over u mean the starter even though its engaged it isnt turning the engine?

if the alt is turning the engine is turning over

vonbeck265

it only turns a little it does not continue turning over. would the security system have anything to do with this?

slowmaro87

nah im pretty sure if it was the vatts it wouldnt turn at all does it sound like the starter is working really hard?

it might not be shimmed quite rite yet and the gear mesh could be too tight binding up the starter

vonbeck265

hey thank you! Ill check it out seemed like the clearance was ok and it was the same number of shims as when i pulled it out.

slowmaro87

it is worth checking ....some clues would be like shiny metal were the small starter gear hits the flywheel/flex-plate or abnormal wear on the starter gear from hittin the flywheel/flex-plate

slowmaro87

you can also to rule out the vatts turn the key to on then jump the starter by touching the positive terminal on the starter to a ground !!!! please be careful when doing this !!!!!

camaronewbie

This is way way wrong! There is nothing on a starter (except the starter case itself) that is a ground - if you ground a starter wire (ANY starter wire) you are going to get sparks (you're welding ) because ALL starter wires are positive! You are shorting out the battery by touching any starter wire to any ground.

If the starter even so much as clicks, then the VATS is working. That's the only test you need for VATS.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

I'd shim it out a little further and see if it helps. That's odd.

slowmaro87

ok if you want to be more specific not the starter just the solenoid thats attached to the starter ....and yes it will work because that how ive started my car without my vats connected

Air_Adam

I'd say its one of two things:

A) Starter needs more shimming - its too tight.
B) Battery is weak, needs charged or replaced.

vonbeck265

Thanks again you guys. I have four shims in it. it had 3 when I took the old one out. I jumbed it with my van and same thing. It's moving the flywheel a little but it's not turning over. Im going to change the distributor cap and points and put in another shim. Hope this works.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

The distributor is most likely not going to help it turn over at all.

Have you tried jumper cables to make sure the battery isnt just dead?

slowmaro87

Rob's 92 gta

Did you try to turn the motor by hand ? Another thought, I replaced my starter with an new one from a auto parts store and it was bad to, I took it back and they replaced it and the second one worked fine. It"s just something you might want to check!

vonbeck265

well funny you should mention that. It wasnt bad but it wasnt the right starter. When I took the old one back they macthed it up wrong. just put the right one in
and the same thing. I think that there is no spark. the starter engages and the flywheel nudges but it's not firing. I guess it's time to put a new distributor in. Jumping did not work either. So im going to check for spark and go from there. I just hope the motor didnt seize. When the starter went it was in mid crank and then stopped. I tried to start it again and the motor jumped. The old starter case was broken so I think the last start attempt jumped the flywheel and broke the case.

slowmaro87

i wouldn't think it would have anything to do with getting spark or not your problem is the starter is not turning the motor more that a second or two ...that would have nothing to do with the distributor or getting spark or not

vonbeck265

yeah it's weird Ive never encountered this. On my 67 chevell I went through two starters. Again because they gave me the wrong one the first time. I put them in though and the chevell started right up. Why would the starter not turn the flywheel enough? I shimmed it a little more than the original. Maybe more shim?

ASE doc

Im going to suggest that it stopped in mid crank not because the starter is bad but because of a bad wire or connection. Check, and clean as needed, all connections between the battery and starter, battery and engine block. Side terminals can look okay but if you remove them you may find them corroded. Check the condition of the battery cables. They can break inside the insulation and appear okay visually.

Do you have a volt meter? While cranking, test voltage first at the battery terminals. Is there at least 11.5v at the battery while cranking? If not charge or test/replace battery. Check voltage at the block and starter+. Is there at least 10v at the starter when cranking? If not, test voltage drop across each battery cable. Carefully check a cable that drops more than .5 volt. If the ends and connections look okay, replace the cable.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

1. It is only going to spark when the rotor in the distributor turns and contacts a plug terminal. This is caused by the engine rotating. If the engine isn't rotating, you're not going to get spark. The lack of rotation is the cause of the lack of spark, not the other way around.

2. Turn the engine over by hand to make sure it's not seized or something. If you're careful you can just put a socket on the center balancer bolt... but I dont like to do that. I use a special adapter. But as long as you dont act like a fool it should be okay. Just apply smooth gradual pressure and it should start to turn. Turn the engine clockwise (if you're in front of the car facing the engine).

vonbeck265

hey thanks to you all for the tech and advice. I went to turn the motor and it wouldnt budge. I was starting to suspect that the motor seized. I went to check the oil and all the anti freeze had run into the crank case. Sucks but I was planning to put a new motor in anyway just not this soon.

ASE doc

Sorry to hear the news bro. Have fun though building your new motor.

slowmaro87

wow ya very sorry to hear

but hey engine building is one of the best parts of having a toy car have fun with it and take your time

Rob's 92 gta

Sorry to here that your motor was seized, but now you can build it the way you want . (good luck )

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Sorry bro. Good luck.