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Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped.


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grasshopper
New User

Oct 11, 2016, 4:39 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1332 views)
Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped. Sign In

1997
Mazda
626
2.5 v6
124,000

Just spent 600.00 to have the starter and some "shorted wire" replaced after it would not start. The starter would just click away but not engage. Less than one month later, it's the same exact problem..started less than a dozen times. clicks..won't engage. Battery is fine, jumped it. No go.

I've tried 3 mechanics and they keep telling me the starter needs to be replaced ..but it just WAS replaced at great expense. I don't trust any of them to figure this out anymore.

question: What could be wrong here? I will answer any questions. I've noticed a few things that seemed odd, like even with the motor running the dashboard lights will dim if I use the electric windows, etc. Mechanic ignore me on that, not sure if it's related. Help!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 11, 2016, 5:00 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1327 views)
Re: Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped. Sign In

We can't tell you what's wrong without testing anything. Three mechanics that have actually looked at the car have told you it is the starter. That should be good news. It's under warranty.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



grasshopper
New User

Oct 11, 2016, 7:16 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1320 views)
Re: Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped. Sign In

Yeah, but this seems to be a problem that mechanics (2 so far) have failed to deal with. Perhaps it's something unique to this model, I don't know.

What I can say is that it DID jump.. the mechanic said the battery was OKay...but why would it just go that low without a short or a bad alternator? If it was a bad alternator, is there a dummy light that would come on to tell me? This is a real odd one I can't diagnose.

Again, it was odd that the lights always dimmed when trying to roll the windows up or down. It's also odd that I could have the headlights, the radio on and honk the horn no problem.. but still not have enough juice to crank it. weirdness.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 11, 2016, 7:20 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1317 views)
Re: Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped. Sign In

This is not a difficult thing to diagnose for a competent tech. I don't know what kind of shops you are taking this to but the local tire shop or chain store is definitely not the place to be.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 12, 2016, 4:05 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1311 views)
Re: Starter not working after just replaced, mechanics stumped. Sign In

Make sure your not dropping voltage at the battery terminals while someone attempts to crank the engine.


I've ran into gear reduction starter that you'll hear the solenoid click, but there isn't enough current in the starter solenoid circuit to fully close the plunger contact. First make sure the main lug on the starter the battery cable connects to has battery voltage on it 10-12.6V when they attempt to crank the engine. If that is good, take the volt meter and touch the starter case with the red lead with the black lead on battery negative post. When attempting to crank, you should see less than 0.5V. If not you have a bad ground.

If all that is good measure the voltage at the trigger wire connection terminal at the starter without unplugging the trigger wire. The circuit needs to have current running though it and when you unplug it, you won't be able to tell you if you have excessive resistance in the circuit. You should see battery voltage there when attempting to crank the engine. If the voltage is low, you have resistance somewhere in the starter solenoid trigger circuit. If it has an aftermarket alarm system, that can cause problems in the trigger circuit.





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