Starter won't crank, just clicks when I turn the key

[bertrenolds5]

There is something always wrong with my car lately, it never ends. Got in my car the other night after I parked it and she wouldn't start, I can't find out why the starter will not crank. The battery is new and I am getting 12.5 volts with ignition in the on position, tested the starter at orilleys and it passed, pulled the starter relay and I'm not sure how to apply 12volts to it to check for continuity like my chiltons says. With the relay pulled no starter click, with it in the starter will click when I turn the key so the relay must be good. I just put a new ECU in and I'm about to pull it to see if it's ok. I poped my clutch to get the car started to get it home so it runs, I just can't get it to crank.

If anyone is available to help me out I can throw you some cash because I'm out of ideas, or if you know something I should check please let me know. This is annoying the hell out of me, I'm in savage but could pop the clutch again and drive it somewhere. Somone please help me out, my number is 612-385-6378.

[D_Venable]

Check any ground cables from the engine to the chassis, and the direct positive cable off the battery.

[bertrenolds5]

I was just reading that the power cables get corroded and can cause symptoms like mine. How should I test the positive and negative lines? Volt meter between the positive cable and the positive terminal on the starter? What about the negative line? I don't have tons of experience using a volt meter to test voltage so please bare with me. Thanks for the help!

[TheBlizzard]

Sounds to me like you might have a dead spot in your starter, get a friend and have him try to start the car when you tap on the starter with a wrench, cables to the starter could be an issue.

[bertrenolds5]

I will give it a try, it tested out ok but I read somewhere they can test ok and still be bad. I'm going to check my voltages on my positive and negative lines to the starter. Is the little clip that connects onto the starter a ground from the ignition relay that completes the circuit? can I try bypassing it?

[tpunx99GSX]

verify that the remote wire has a good connection (smallest wire, this is a tell tale sign of this wire not getting a good connection)
Otherwise if you need a new starter, ill sell you mine off my partout for 35 bucks.

[bertrenolds5]

I checked my power wires, + & - both have over 12volts, small wire has continuity when I checked it with ohms from one end to the other end plug. How many volts should I be getting off the small wire at the starter when it is cranked? Should I disconnect the small wire then run my volt meter through it to a good ground somewhere and crank the car to test it?

Also, on the small black wire it goes from 1 wire and is split into two wires that go to a plug. Is that normal? seems like someone rigged it or is that stock wiring?

[1ViciousGSX]

Volt meter at each end of the cable (battery post & starter terminal) should not show more than a 1 volt drop when cranking over. Test from the battery post to the starter terminal post, same thing with the ground. Tell us what you get. Notice I said post and not cable ends.

[Pushit2.0]

Does the motor turn over? There could be a bad spot in the flywheel ring gear. Clean up the battery connections with a wire brush or terminal cleaner, make sure the negative battery cable goes onto one of the 2 bolts that hold the starter onto the tranny, try hitting the starter with a hammer. Good luck.

~John

[CarPsyco84]

When it just clicks, the lights on the dash and everything stays light correct? if not, its the battery posts. When you say it clicks, whats clicking, a relay, or the solenoid on the starter? If the solenoid is clicking the wires to it are most likely ok, and it would be a dead spot in the starter motor.