CAR WON'T START WTF? NEED HELP ASAP

trying to go out cruisin' some since it's a nice day and I get to my buddy's house and washed the car, now it won't start. Seems like the battery's got plenty of juice, it's reading fine anyway, but the starter doesn't seem like it's getting enough juice. It did this same shit yesterday and i cleaned the terminals and it started up fine.But today we cleaned them again, then we changed them, and still no dice. The starter is getting juice, I don't know how much though, and there is a little oil leak that leaks right onto the top of the starter. What do i need to check to rememdy this so we can get cruising?

 

Is your starter solenoid getting too hot? My dad's '63 bonneville used to do that all the time when I was in high school. We'd drive somewhere, stop to do something and it wouldn't start until it cooled off. We ended up adding a remote starter solenoid and it's been fine for about 8 years since.

 

what kind of car is it?

I had a problem with the terminal coming loose on the starter... my flatty does this every once in a while even with lock washers.

Could be the selenoid too- did you try jumping the starter with jumper cables directly?

Tuck

 

I've been here for a pretty good while so it should've cooled down by now, I'll try to check and see how hot it is, if i remember where the hell it is...

 

ballast resister?

 

WE'll check that too, running out to the drive way right now. let you know in the next few minutes. i fucking love this board...

 

where the hell is the ballast resistor? I don't even know what the hell that is. I'm no mechanic...

 

Is the starter doing anything? Maybe your battery is weak.

 

I don't think there is a ballast resistor on those pontiacs, at least I've never seen it on my dad's '63. If you can hear noise, but the starter's not turning when you turn the key, it's your solenoid. It could be hot or it could be shot. I'd recommend replacing it with a remote one either way. We used a kit, but I've seen people do it with a ford one from the junkyard.

 

all the wires are tight, tried sticking a charger on it and got nothing. I don't think there is a ballast resistor either. where the hell is the starter solenoid? I feel like an idiot. it's making a sound, but it's not turning. it's just going "click-cluck" if it's the solenoid that means I"m stuck here since i have no money right?

 

The solenoid is the top cylindrical thing on the starter, the larger, lower one is the starter motor.

 

Is your ignition bad?

 

ok well lets see what the hell we can do about this. Will a solenoid off any 389 work or is it a year specific thing? I don't knwo what the hell I'm doing but we're gonna go out and fuck with it i guess.

 

Almost all of those GM solenoids are the same.

 

Try the starter relay. The last time my car wouldn't start for no apparent reason, it was the starter relay. On my car anyway, it's mounted on the driver's side inner fender, it's the first thing the hot battery cable connects to. If you find it, just use jumper cables or a big screwdriver to go across the poles on it until it does something.

 

There's no relay on these cars, the cable goes directly to the solenoid.

 

Is this on that 50 buick?
Still 6 volt?
I had a problem with 3 of them already the hot battery cable was breaking up inisde just from the way that the wire was routed. Grab out your multimeter and check the continuity of the wire if its bad replace it. One was cracked so when it was wet it was cutting down the voltage.
keeping it from starting.

 

it's a 60 pontiac, should've said that. It's twelve volt, but I"ll check the continuity anyways. I'm about ready to call in the roll back and have it taken to somebody that knows what the hell they're doing.... and actually there is a little boc the hot wire goes to before it goes to the starter, dunno what it is but I guess it could be resistor. If i had the camera with me I'd snap off a few pics.

 

Maybe it's got a broken magnet inside? Try hitting the starter w/ a hammer while your buddy trys to crank it...GM style starters seem to like that sometimes...

BYC

 

Did you try giving the battery a boost with jumper cables? if not try that first. you may just have a weak battery (not holding the charge) or trouble with your charging system.

Billy

 

good point on that bat... i've had batterys take a dump where they'll still hold a charge but there are no cranking amps. Could be toasted I would try jumping it directly.

On another note I bought a heavy duty JUMPER box and it RULES.

good luck man...

 

You said you washed the car and now it won't start. Did you get water in the distributor? That happend on my A and it would star until it dried out.

 

Yes we've tried boosting the battery and it's cool, the radio lights and everything works, the damn motor just won't turn over. We're about to get the car up in the air to try beating on the start like suggested above since we just got access t a jack and some stands. If i have to replace the starter/and or solenoid will i be able to get one from pretty much any 389 or will it be year specific? The only place that's still open nearby is advanced auto and we all know how retarded they can be.

 

you may have a bad wire between the ignition switch and selenoid.

plenty of potential for worn insulation there, maybe it got wet and is grounding out when you hit the switch.

try arcing across the selenoid from the large post to one of the small ones.

if it turns over your starter and selenoid are OK.

Paul

 

tried jumping the wires across, did the same shit, you can just hear the solenoid clicking, motor doesn't even try to turn over. how many volts shoudl be goign to from the ign. start wire to the solenoid? Anyone know about what years will interchange with the starter?

 

If your starter has some miles on it, here's a free fix that may do it for you.
I've done it to a couple different Chevy pickups and the fix lasted a long while.

Remove the starter solenoid.
Loosen or remove the hold down nut that locks the battery cable terminal bolt to the solenoid. (Note that the bolt fits in a square hole.)
Turn the bolt so it's oriented 180 out from the original installation.

Note that the inside flat electrical contact area on the bolt head (copper-bronze bolt)is probably eaten away in a quarter circle shape.
What's happening here is the solenoid can't come back far enough to make good electric contact and all you're getting is clicking and more burning away of the bolt heads contact surface.

Reinstall solenoid.

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

You may not have to remove the starter or solenoid if you can reach the cover with a screwdriver so as to remove the cover.
You may also be able to loosen the battery cable contact bolt enough to push it in enough to turn it 180 degrees, pull it out and tighten the lock nut.

If this is what it was and also what repairs the problem, you should have several years of solenoid/starter life left.

 

C9 - kick ass trick!

 

as for the starter interchange, i'm pretty sure the 59 and 60's are the same, but the 61 and up changed mounting positions.

good luck man

 

C9, good trick, if memory serves you need to roll both large terminals over.

It also just may be time for a new battery.

Paul

 

I think on the newer solinoids the large washer on the bolts that youre turning isnt fixed to the bolt anymore, it spinns freely so contact on it is even as it moves each time, but maybe mine was just broken

From my experience, if you turn the key and hear a click, it means all wiring from the key to the starter is good.

The solinoid is getting juice, so that wire is good, but just not enough.

clicking sound is good to hear to know you have good wiring and fuses. no click, and youd have to chase all that.

Try and jump start it with another car, if it starts, then the battery isnt holding a charge.

Or get a good or at least different battery from a buddies car that you know has a good charge and try it with that one.

Dumb check, but make sure the battery has water if its one that needs it, or youre wasting your time. ground straps are also helpful, as ive found out.

get some gloves on and put a screwdriver or pliers down at the solinoid and arc between the big bolt and the smaller bolt.

Good luck on your cruise night, but dont park it anywhere girls will be watchin ya, you may have to do it again, lol