| Author |
Message |
Jim DeRespino (Jimbo)
New member
Username: Jimbo
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 8:41 pm: | |
My 94 512TR had starting problems. I got out my trusty voltmeter and found low voltage getting to the starter solenoid. I traced it back to the aftermarket car alarm. The kill switch is usually wired into the ignition to solenoid wire. In my case the crappy butt connectors had worked loose. I fabricated a new harness, soldered everything in place and all problems were history. |
Stanley DiGuiseppi (Standig)
New member
Username: Standig
Post Number: 20
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 4:19 pm: | |
argyle
Start at the begining. Does the battery have 12 volts. If so does it hold a load. We use a load tester that most repair facilties should have. If all is good that rules out the battery. Next. Does it have 12 volts at the battery cable connection at the starter? Now check the small wire to the solonoid. It should have no power until key is turned to start position. If all that checks out then hit starter caseing with a small hammer. If starter turns over then it proves the starter to have an internal problem. Many times it is the bushings that wear out and cause the armature to drag on the internal coils. Hitting with a hammer basically unsticks the stuck.
A starter maybe expensive to replace. We use a local electrical repair shop to check starter and replace bushings or brushes. If one is available near you it might be a good choice.
Lastly, don't forget the ground wire. A ground wire runs from the engine I believe on the rear of your engine to the frame. It should be a braided heavy cable. It can be a unsuspected culprit.
Let us know what you find. |
Chris A. (Asianbond)
New member
Username: Asianbond
Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 2:43 pm: | |
Chris (wrench turner)'s comments are right on point if it was the starter or solenoid, otherwise check the battery connection on the battery post, sometimes even though there's enough juice for the headlights the connection is not strong enough for the full draw to crank the starter and that is the reason for clicking sound. This hapens more during cold weather situations. But based on your desciption it sounds most likely like a starter going bad. |
Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member
Username: 91tr
Post Number: 774
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 2:29 pm: | |
Argyle -- try replacing just the starter solenoid first. Several TRs (including mine) have shown very similar mis-start symptoms, and Ben L.'s recommendation for an Ace Electric 7-851 has worked out very well. For the details see:
http://server.ferrarichat.com/~ferrari/ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/112/19944.html |
chris (Wrench_turner)
New member
Username: Wrench_turner
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 1:13 pm: | |
If you tapped on the starter that could mean more than one thing depending on your definition of "tap."
The armature in a starter motor can sometimes freeze up. The single click you hear in this case is the solenoid trying to engage the starter gear with the flywheel. However, since the motor itself is stuck, nothing happens. This is one of those cases where hitting something with a large hammer actually does fix it. I had a 240z when I was young that I kept a small sledgehammer in because I often needed to give the starter a gentile tap with it to get it to spin.
If you were tapping on the main body of the motor then this is probably what happened. You could also have a loose electrical connection between the solenoid and the starter which is preventing the starter motor from getting any power (as mentioned in an earlier post). A tap on the wires could possibly temporarily fix this.
Check all the connections on the back of the solenoid and make sure they are secure. If the wiring seems good and it happens again and hitting the motor fixes it the best solution is probably to replace the starter altogether.
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TomD (Tifosi)
Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 824
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 1:12 pm: | |
glad to hear you found it, nothin more disconcerting than getting ready for an F-car drive and not be able to get it going |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2218
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
ross,
i had something like that as well when i bought my car. It was actually the wire at the battery connection that was broken and did not get enough juice to the starter to fire it up, while everything else was working fine because that was fed from another wire which was okay. Get that checked out as well Argyle. Follow the wire from the battery to the starter.
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bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Member
Username: Bws88tr
Post Number: 375
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
argle
same thing happened to my 88 tr
click click click= battery..just jump it
1 click only= starter or possible relay
only thing i can think of..hope it helps..
bruce |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2217
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 1:03 pm: | |
The starter could have been in an odd angle and did not fire becasue of that. I had that on several occassions. See if this continues though and if it does frequently, you may want to get the starter redone. That should be something fairly easy on the TR but I can not tell you for sure.
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Argyle Co (Argyleco)
Junior Member
Username: Argyleco
Post Number: 66
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:58 pm: | |
I only hear one click.
Also I found where the starter is and tapped on it and the car started right up. Do you think it's my starter or the relay to the starter that's bad.
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ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 112
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:50 pm: | |
i had that problem on the 348, and turned out to be a short between the starter and battery, right where the wire came into starter. |
Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Junior Member
Username: Amenasce
Post Number: 109
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:44 pm: | |
it could be the starter .
Try pushing it , with the 2 gear engaged ..
I know its a TR and its heavy but thats a way to start it if indeed its the starter. |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2215
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:41 pm: | |
Is it a continuous clicking? like a fast click click click? If so that is the battery then. Try to jump it.
If it is only one click it is likely the starter. It may also be the relay, which controls the starter. My relay has to be charged before I start the car after it was sitting for a few days. I gotta get that fixed...
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TomD (Tifosi)
Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 823
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:26 pm: | |
what about the starter? |
arthur chambers (Art355)
Member
Username: Art355
Post Number: 451
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:22 pm: | |
That's an electrical problem. How long did you let it sit. You might try jumping the battery and see if that makes it start. If it hasn't been sitting too long, then you probably have something wrong with the wiring or the charging system. |
Argyle Co (Argyleco)
Junior Member
Username: Argyleco
Post Number: 64
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 12:16 pm: | |
Guys, I need your help.
My 1991 Testarossa won't start and I don't think it's the battery because I turned on the head light and tried to start the car and the light didn't even flicker and the battery is only a few months old. When I turn the key all I hear is a clicking sound coming from the engine bay behind the driver's seat. Please help, thanks
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