tekfx19 Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I have a 1996 STS with a bad starter. First time it happend, i turned the key and *click*.......i do it again.. *click*. After trying to turn it on for about 13 to 14 clicks it would turn on. Since then it intermittenly turns on fine and sometimes i still have to make it click a few times. The other day i almost got stuck at school, because, when i turned the ignition this time, i didnt even get a click, but my battery was fine, Somehow with 5 minutes of trying, it started to click, and eventually turn on. NOw the car is completely stuck at my home, no clicking but a good battery. So whats the problem, a bad starter or solenoid or ...i dunno... CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrantlee Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 You almost certainly have a bad solenoid switch or connection. This happened to me and plenty of others on this site. The down side is to verify you have to remove the intake manifold. The dealer will charge you about $400 just in labor. This is a DIY'er job with the service manual and tools if you're mechanically inclined. If not, try to find a qualified mechanic who has done this to a N*. He should charge only about $200 labor. Any starter/alternator shop can fix the starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I would inspect the battery cables and connections for corrosion. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I know how to remove the manifold, but i did it before i had the new fuel rail put in, its a pain in the *smurf* for sure. Im gonna check the battery cables. Does anyone know how much a starter should cost roughly? Thanks a million for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie Hank Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I know how to remove the manifold, but i did it before i had the new fuel rail put in, its a pain in the *smurf* for sure. Im gonna check the battery cables. Does anyone know how much a starter should cost roughly? Thanks a million for all the help. I think I paid about $ 160 for an aftermarket version for my '93 STS. I think an OEM will run about double, from what I remember, through a dealership. Short of a cable connection probelm, you will probably need to replace the whole unit. Mine started operating much the same, it went from intermittent operation to where it just wouldn't work. I pulled it out once, had it bench-tested at an alternator shop and they said it was good, put it back in, then it repeated operating intermittently, again. The second time I just replaced it and all my problems went away. The second time I pulled it out, I did it twice as fast (can you imagine that...., kinda like losing an AutoCAD drawing during a power surge and having to redraw it from the last backup, if anyone out there has lived that cirmcustance before). It took 1-1/2 the first time and about 45 minutes the second time, however my intake design is slightly different.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 tekfx19, Did you try to start in Neutral? It might be your neutral safety switch. Mine did the same click - no start, until i bypassed it sending a wire from th ebattery tp solenoid's positive terminal. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Does anyone know the actual procedure for changing the starter in the 1996 STS? I have mechanical ability but i dont even know what the starter looks like. If anyone can help I would owe them big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Does you instrument panel ever black out when you try to start it? Have you eliminated the positive battery cable by looking for corrosion under the red insulator? If you don'tn have terminal corrosion it does sound like a solenoid. I will look for the process later in my 96 manual and post it if no one beats me too it, Mike Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 no i havent noticed the instrument panel blacking out, everyone is suggesting that i hit the starter with something to see if it works then, but i really dont know exactly what it looks like or where in the engine compartment it is located. Anyone with this info please help, it is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 You won't be tapping on this starter with a hammer! Someone here a while back had starter problems and had done the job a couple of times. The said that that had the job down to 30 minutes. The starter is under the intake manifold, here is a photo, the solenoid is attached, you might be able to replace just the solenoid, Mike This is from my 96 manual The steps are: remove battery cables at battery Remove Intake Manifold Remove S terminal nut and battery cable nut Remove Starter mounting bolts Remove starter Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 You said you know how to remove the intake, if you need the details, I can scan them or post them, removing the intake is covered in a different section of the manual. Mike Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 thanx a billion, im gonna get started on it immediately. Did you scan the image? or did you find one online? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 thanx a billion, im gonna get started on it immediately. Did you scan the image? or did you find one online? I have a folder full of scans from my service manual for the 4.9 and NS, if you need something let me know, Good Luck with that job, Mike Consider replacing just your solenoid, and saving a bunch of cash...but I would determine that by how hard it is to get at the starter, I have not done this job yet. Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 ok here is my dillema, i have the "NEW" fuel rail given to me by my good friends at GM. Does anyone know how to remove this fuel rail, it has less play than the first one, and i already released the pressure from the S. valve. There are two lines coming from the fuel tank and they seem impossible to dissattach from the fuel rail. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob D Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Before you go too far...You're sure it's not the PND (park, neutral drive ) switch? (Like adallack suggested) Something that simple can be causing the problem you've described. Have you tried 'rocking' the gear shift lever while turning the ignition switch? '93 STS.. opened, dropped, wide...fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 ok here is my dillema, i have the "NEW" fuel rail given to me by my good friends at GM. Does anyone know how to remove this fuel rail, it has less play than the first one, and i already released the pressure from the S. valve. There are two lines coming from the fuel tank and they seem impossible to dissattach from the fuel rail. Any suggestions? I can't help you with those connectors I have looked at them myself, you may need a special tool to re-crimp them when you are done, one is a supply and one is a return. It is covered in Section 6C of my manual, and for some reason there is NO Section 6C.... Try calling the dealer and speaking to the service manager to find out if you need to replace those "crimp connectors", he may be able to shed some light on it if you are in a rush Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 im 100% certain that that is not the problem, I have tried starting it in neutral, and just now i rocked the shifter back and forth. Im getting a very vague click, like the switch to the starter is working, but no crank at all anymore. So im positive its the starter. And the battery shows 13 volts and the radio plays etc, so its not the battery either, btw i checked for corrosion, there was some, and i gave it a good cleaning, still nothing. ----------> starter is the only thing. I still dont know how to get the new fuel rail off, Im sure there must be a tool, does anyone know if i can buy that tool from pepboys or discount auto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 im 100% certain that that is not the problem, I have tried starting it in neutral, and just now i rocked the shifter back and forth. Im getting a very vague click, like the switch to the starter is working, but no crank at all anymore. So im positive its the starter. And the battery shows 13 volts and the radio plays etc, so its not the battery either, btw i checked for corrosion, there was some, and i gave it a good cleaning, still nothing. ----------> starter is the only thing. I still dont know how to get the new fuel rail off, Im sure there must be a tool, does anyone know if i can buy that tool from pepboys or discount auto? Another possibility is starter diable relay, you can bypass it by sending a wire from battery's positive terminal directly to solenoids positive. It's the way I drive my car for two years . Be careful. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 im 100% certain that that is not the problem, I have tried starting it in neutral, and just now i rocked the shifter back and forth. Im getting a very vague click, like the switch to the starter is working, but no crank at all anymore. So im positive its the starter. And the battery shows 13 volts and the radio plays etc, so its not the battery either, btw i checked for corrosion, there was some, and i gave it a good cleaning, still nothing. ----------> starter is the only thing. I still dont know how to get the new fuel rail off, Im sure there must be a tool, does anyone know if i can buy that tool from pepboys or discount auto? I just did a search at SNAP ON and http://www.etoolcart.com/ for you and found nothing, I can only say call your local caddy dealer and ask the service manager, they are usually very helpful, Mike Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 I was speaking to JimD and he mentioned that those connectors are quick release connectors. I went out to my car and looked closer, it looks like there is a safety retainer, and that is probably a 3/8" quick disconnect connector, you can buy the quick disconnect tool at most auto parts stores. Mike (Thanks JimD) Look to make sure that the supply and return lines are the same or different sizes so you get the correct tools, I personally have NEVER had a fun time with these connectors on the fuel filter, but I think I have been buying cheapo quick disconnect tools, http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P6...ore&dir=catalog Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 i actually bought that tool earlier today, and it helped me get one of the fuel lines loose. The other one it wouldnt fit because it was smaller. But the one i got loose gave the fuel railer enough play to let the manifold tilt up enough to get the starter out of there, i found a place like 25 minutes away that said 100 bucks for a refurb, with me giving him my old one. Also a one year warranty. So im heading up there tomorrow at 8 am. Thanks for all the help Mike, and everyone here at the forum. I just hope i dont change the starter and it still not work.......Is that even a possibility????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 As long as you checked your battery cables very closely (and I mean that you took it apart and cleaned it and checked for corrosion). If you are confident that the connection is good at the battery, and the battery IS in fact fully charged, if you were getting the symptom of having to repeatedly turn the key, get a click, and once in a while it started, that is an indication that the contacts in the solenoid are kaput OR but unlikely there is a dead spot on the armature in the starter or the brushes are shot. Then replacing the started will do the trick (I hope).. Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 You might shop around a little. I had a starter problem with my wifes Bonneville last summer. Clutch was bad. I brought it to a place not far away that rebuilds starters & alternators. Cost me about $25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekfx19 Posted March 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 Thanks for everyones help. It starts like a champ. I replaced it myself, and everything looks good. The guy at the starter place said the solenoid was bad and the clutch was shot to hell. Pretty much the entire thing was dead. I bought a rebuilt one for 85 bucks. Not bad considering everyone of the autoshops like pepboys etc was trying to get 140 - 170 for a starter. Now im off to bandage my cut up hands from removing the intake manifold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 Thanks for everyones help. It starts like a champ. I replaced it myself, and everything looks good. The guy at the starter place said the solenoid was bad and the clutch was shot to hell. Pretty much the entire thing was dead. I bought a rebuilt one for 85 bucks. Not bad considering everyone of the autoshops like pepboys etc was trying to get 140 - 170 for a starter. Now im off to bandage my cut up hands from removing the intake manifold. Consider that a WIN...... and thanks for the feedback. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.