Starter/Solenoid

tonysfiat · Post by **tonysfiat** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:07 pm

Hello everyone, It has been a while since I posted on this forum, since my spider has been behaving exceptionally well this past season. Well until today.

Today was the day I was to put the spider in hibernation for our cold new york winters. I went to start the car and it failed to start.

Here are the symptons

On turning the key I hear clicking noises rapid then slow. I have power, the radio works lights function, turn signals work as they should. clock is keeping good time.
I checked my battery terminal connections, all tight.

Could it be the starter or solenoid or both?

How to I determine which is the culprit.

PS

the spider is a 1979 automatic .

Thanks for any help

Tony

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:36 pm

you've got low voltage to the solenoid. Could either be a weak battery or a voltage drop due to a bad connection somewhere in the system. Attach a voltmeter to the battery cable at the solenoid, then try to start the car. It takes at least 9.6V to make the starter operate. If you've got less than that start checking connections back to the battery. Loose connections at the starter or battery are the most common culprits

tonysfiat · Post by **tonysfiat** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:45 am

Mark

thanks for the quick response.

I will check out tonight.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:10 pm

Welcome back Tony! The girlz in the office still talk about their New York Pizza!!!

if you find you need a replacement starter, let me know. I have one off a '74 parts car just dying to be sent back into circulation. It still has the soleniod attached.

Make you sucha deal....

tonysfiat · Post by **tonysfiat** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:14 am

Hi Mike

great to hear from you again, hope all is well.

Well I am embrassed

Mark was right check battery first. Well I never thought to check battery because lights and radio and clock all worked fine. However this morning just for the heck of it I tried to jump start the spider, and boom it fired right up.

I was just telling mu son after this that what a great place this forum is where people help just for the sake of it with no other agenda or rewards.

With out this forum I probably would of went out and bought a new starter and spent hours installing it and then oops go out and finally buy a new battery
.

Thanks to all you guys

Have a great holiday.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:25 am

You're right Tony. I have asked some pretty basic questions here; things that would have gotten me flamed at some other car forum. I appreciate the comany here very much.

Good to know that you found the problem before spending too much cash, or wasting time.

Still not too late to add a battery "topper" to your Christmas list. I religiuosly use two of them, as I have vehicles stored in two different garages during the off season.