No sparkie sparkie

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:41 pm

I went to startt the Terc today and nothing happened. I checked the battery and it is fully charged so I am assuming it is the starter. There is nothing when I turn the key, no clicking, no engine turning. I have downloaded the repair manual to take the starter apart to check it out. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?

Thanks

ESI-RStarion · Post by **ESI-RStarion** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:40 am

Double check the plug that plugs into the starter, came unplugged on me up camping last summer.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:20 am

Find the +12 wire that activates the solenoid and jump to it from the battery...this would eliminate the solenoid if it clicks or turns over. Out of gear of course.

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:00 am

Thanks for the tips. I will look at it between bastings

ESI-RStarion · Post by **ESI-RStarion** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:43 am

Mmmm, bastings....

Post by **Petros** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:46 am

Also check that the battery terminal posts are clean (use a wire brush on them) and the clamps are tight.

Double check both the ground connection at the body and the engine, and the pos conncetion at the starter, that they are tight and free of corrosion.

And also double check your fuses: there is a large 60 main fuse (a little yellow square box type fuse) if this one blows there will be no lights on the dash either, and there is a separate starter fuse.

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:55 pm

So as I don't use the tercel as a daily driver I finally got around to having a crack at the starting problem this weekend.

I found my starter but it was coated with a few mm of oil and grime. It looks like there must have been a leak from the oil cap on the top of the engine at some time. So cleaned everything off as best as I could and checked the wires that connect to the starter. They were connected tightly but covered in grimey oil. This time when I cranked the engine it sounded like a dog getting beat. It was slowly and laboriously cranking and would start once and a while if I tapped the gas. The lights don't dim while it is turning over.

I took the starter off as I need to clean all the oil off of it anyways and it looks like oil has made it's way into the starter and has given the armature a good coating of oil. (The tercel repair manual calls it an armature, it is the spindle-like thing with all the copper wire). I am not a mechanic but this seems like it could be my problem. Should I clean it off of is it normally dirty like that?

Also does anyone know of a good engine bay cleaning product. I did a quick internet search and it sounds like Simple Green or Gunk.

Thanks

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:00 pm

princess auto sells some pretty good degreasing stuff, its water soluable and enviro friendly too. (the soap is, once its mixed with oil probably not)

mabey your starter hit dead spot?

whatever the case, starters are pretty simple and easy to take apart and put back together if you want to check it. if its your first time, just pay close attention to how it comes apart.

neonsport · Post by **neonsport** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:15 pm

I use a generic purple degreaser for cleaning my engine bay. A gallon costs about $5 at Wal-Mart, and it'll last quite a while. Put some in a spray bottle, and give your engine compartment a couple of good coats. Spray it off with high-pressure water, and see how much comes off. On your first time cleaning, you'll likely have to hit some spots more than once, and use a scrub brush.

I used to have quite a bit of oil on the underside of my hood between cleanings, till I replaced the valve cover gasket and valve seals last year. I then replaced the fuel pump, which was the other major source of oil leakage on my car. Since I did those, my engine has really stayed clean.

BTW, that purple degreaser is an amazing tire cleaner as well.

keith · Post by **keith** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:50 pm

DO NOT CLEAN THE ARMATURE. Sorry about the all caps but this is very important. The wires on the armature are coated with a lacquer that could dissolve in some of the degreasers that you would use to remove oil. The oil on the coils will not hurt anything. Now the part that contacts the brushes should be clean, Scotchbrite works the best for this. A paper towel and some rubbing alcohol can be used to clean off any oil or grease on this, but even a little oil, not grease, on this surface will not hurt anything either.

A little oil in the end caps and new brushes should make it turn over like new. On thing to watch out for is the small wire that comes from the ignition switch into the side of the starter. It's a spade connector, but the spade can back down in the insulated cover and not make full contact with the starter. Its hard to see when looking at it connected and sometimes disconnecting it pulls the spade back in place, but it backs up again when you go to connect it again.

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:53 pm

Thanks for all the tips. I am going to head to Princess Auto tomorrow to get some degreaser and a spray bottle. I WILL MAKE SURE NOT TO CLEAN THE ARMATURE

. I will take some pics to show you all how dirty it is. I opened it up more and chunks of dirt/oil fell out. I was just going to wipe down the armature and put it back together and see how it works.

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:18 pm

Here are those starter pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotisha/1 ... otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotisha/1 ... otostream/

Grimey!

Oh and it sucks when you get your tire blown out by a rust brake pad!

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:38 am

Bet it would work just fine if you'd just clean the grime from around the brushes and commutator. I was just under mine and saw that the starter was covered with oil/grime...not from the valve cover, but it comes from the head gasket in that area.

Just don't get carried away cleaning the armature or taking it apart, etc...nick the varnish on the windings...get a short...crapped out starter. Keith said the same.

scotisha · Post by **scotisha** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:56 pm

SUCCESS!!!! I cleaned the armiture and the brushings and presto sparkie sparkie. Now all I have to do is clean the engine. Thanks for all the help guys!