alright I have a 1992 Formula 350. The car sometimes will crank, sometimes will not. When it does crank it sounds like it struggles sometimes. Had the battery and starter tested, they are both good. Took my volt meter and checked all the wires to the starter relay. Both yellow grounds see 12v when the ignition is activated. Yellow and black VATS wire grounds properly with the turn of the key, and the green wire to the neutral safety sees power when its supposed to. Relay itself is also brand new. Starter is getting power, and all the connections are good and corrosion free. Anybody have ideas of anything else to check? THANKS!

 

Intermittant cranking is a dead giveaway of a bad solonoid on the starter, especially if the wiring is good and voltage is correct. When it doens't crank, what does it do? does it click or make any noise at all or just do nothing?

 

it is a brand new starter and solenoid. But just to make sure I took the starter out of the car and tested it myself with jumper cables and at the parts store. Worked like a champ both times. I might have found a break today, found the purple wire going to the starter in the harness right by the injectors on the passenger side. Cut a little slit in the insulation so the copper was exposed. Had somebody crank the car and it showed 0 volts. Jumped that wire to the battery and the car cranked every-time. Took apart the center console and found the purple wire coming from the neutral safety switch. Did the same thing, cut a little slit and jumped it and the car cranked every time. So should I replace or adjust the switch? What should I test now? Thanks

 

replaced the neutral safety switch put a new battery in the car, got it to run once. I am about to throw this car in the junk yard. This is what it does when the starter actually engages. Once again. Brand new starter I just had out of the car and tested good, brand new battery and terminals, brand new neutral safety switch. What gets replaced next the ignition switch?


click on the picture for video

 

What is the voltage while cranking? Does it stay close to 11-12v or drop to say 9v?