Cant start car after it stalled out

[shambug]

Tercel stalled out, witch it does from time to time, Im pretty sure theres and air leak somewhere,fix a few and it got better just haven't found all of them yet. But my problem is it wont start up. I turn the key to on all the normal lights come on. Then to I turn to start and all the lights go out and nothing except a single click coming from inside the glove box area. checked the IGN fuse under the drivers side and the fuses under the hood. There have been no previous problems with the starter. 30 sec before it stalled out it started up great and ran great. I tested to make sure the engine wasn't bound it and does spin freely. Im going to test the starter tomorrow. Probably not connected, but ive been having electrical problems with both the heater fan and radio too.

[irowiki]

Your alternator (or voltage regulator) could be bad, and not charging the battery. Try charging the battery or jumping it.


Failing that, I think your starter decided to kick the bucket.

I've had two starters go out on me, one just plain fried, and one would CLICK and dim all the lights.

[Petros]

before you buy any parts for it, clean your battery ternimal posts with a battery terminal post cleaner brush.

also check the contact of the heavy wire to the terminal and at the starter end, and check your ground strap as well.

often corroded terminals can act this way, gives enough current to show the dash lights, but cuts out with the higher demand of the starter. in colder winter months the higher demand on the starter can cause corrosion to develop faster.

This is the first things to check when you have suspect battery/starter issues.

[shambug]

Forgot to mention, New alternator and battery less then 6 mouths ago. First thing I did was try and jump start it, no change at all. Tried to push start it but couldn't get it going fast enough were I was. I feel if this was a bad connection problem then the starter would at least try to turn, like it does with a low battery. Checked all the connections and they look good. Voltmeter confirms wire connectivity. I don't have a load tester so I cant test if enough amps are making it to the starter. I Removed the starter and disassembled it. Did the test in the FSM. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see anything about testing the actual motor so I just connected it to a battery and nothing just a spark. So I have ordered a Re-manufactured starter. They talked me into the gear reduction starter vs the direct drive as thats the one I pulled off my tercel and they said that they are "Not Compatible" and it would eat away at the direct drive one, sounded fishy but it was only ten more bucks. Interesting is that with the starter removed from the car it behaves identically. I get the new starter tonight and will put it in tomorrow and let yall know what happens. The only thing that bothers me is that the starter died instantly without any previous problems.It started the car perfect (better then normal really) 30 seconds previous to the car stalling. And then when I tried to restart not a single snap or crackle or any wear noise or anything. I didn't think starters normally go like that. Is there anything that could have blown my starter, like a short somewhere?

[irowiki]

That's how one of my starters went bad. Went to work, it was fine. Came out, car started fine. Stalled out a few minutes later and the starter died.

[Petros]

sudden starter failures are not unusual, I have had it happen on other cars.

consider that if something shorts out inside it, the full voltage and amperage of your battery is released inside of it. That can burn it out instantly.

[shambug]

Replaced the starter and she started right back up.