Starting Problem

Bobby68 · June 28th, 2011, 10:54 PM

alright so i got my distributor and connected everything, electrical works lights go on wipers etc, now heres the problem i turned the key and VOILA! nothing not even a crank of the engine.... just silence. Any suggestions of what might be wrong?

ajzride · June 28th, 2011, 11:21 PM

If you have silence I'm assuming you're not hearing the starter roll the motor? In that case, check the solenoid, it should be on the firewall somewhere close to the battery. It is a little black box with 4 posts on it:

The battery goes into the left-most, the starter comes off the right most, and the ignition switch start position goes into the middle left. You can always test the solenoid by disconnecting the starter, putting a jumper wire between the two left posts (where the battery and ignition switch go) and checking the starter side for 12V with a multi-meter. If you have 12V there, then remove the jumper and have someone hold the key while you check for 12V, if you don't have it there then there is a problem with your ignition switch, or the wiring in between. If you do have 12V, then check the wire going to the starter, make sure it is connected cleanly on the right post. If it is connected properly, then take the starter up to the parts store and have them test it.

If you already knew all of that, then sorry to insult your intelligence.

Bobby68 · June 28th, 2011, 11:34 PM

its all good man im pretty much starting out so im open to any type of advice ill come back later to see what happens thanks

Bobby68 · June 29th, 2011, 11:08 PM

Ok so a little update, i realized the starter wasnt connected <<<<good one right? so i went out connected the battery and not even the lights work theres no spark in the battery either... maybe the solenoid is gone im thinking? i put the screw driver on the solenoid and also got nothing. Sorry for the rookie questions im new at this just starting out my project for my dream car

ajzride · June 29th, 2011, 11:37 PM

I'm confused. Yesterday your lights and wipers worked. Today you hooked the starter up to the solenoid and now nothing works?

Bobby68 · June 30th, 2011, 04:25 AM

Yea i thought that was strange.... battery wont spark or anything, attached the neg and positive wires to a battery charger and also nothing worked im stumped...

ajzride · June 30th, 2011, 08:52 AM

The solenoid needs to ground to the fender well, make sure it has a good connection. Also make sure the started is grounded against the bell housing good.

SStang67 · June 30th, 2011, 08:48 PM

you might have fried a fuse or two in the process. check that for lights and stuff. No crank would be solenoid or starter or ignition problem.

Bobby68 · July 5th, 2011, 02:35 AM

alright a little update, not the solenoid damn it, i checked the fuses they look ok but im going to take them out and check them thoroughly tomorrow just to make sure and ill get back to you guys on that. thanks for the help and keep the advice coming really appreciate it

Bobby68 · July 5th, 2011, 09:53 PM

alright, if i forgot to mention also when i connect the negative and positive wires to the battery terminals they dont give a spark like they usually do they do nothing actually, battery isnt dead i know that because i charged it, maybe something isnt grounding right?

ajzride · July 5th, 2011, 11:41 PM

Do you have a multimeter? If so:
Set it to DC Volts:
- check the positive to Negative
-- < 11.5V Bad battery
- check positive to block
-- < 11.5V bad ground
Set to tone
- check positive to block
-- tone = grounded out on block
- check positive to chassis
-- tone = grounded out on chassis
-

1996 GT · July 6th, 2011, 11:47 AM

^ i had that issue. Or check your ignition switch, had that issue too. Can you get it to turn over from jumping the solenoid?

Bobby68 · July 7th, 2011, 06:50 PM

Alright guys i figured out what it was, and indeed it was the solenoid, that duralast crap dont last even a month lol. i went got myself a new one and now she cranks up and breathing. thanks a lot guys for your advice

ajzride · July 7th, 2011, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Bobby68

Alright guys i figured out what it was, and indeed it was the solenoid, that duralast crap dont last even a month lol. i went got myself a new one and now she cranks up and breathing. thanks a lot guys for your advice

I don't know about others experiences, but I don't find it un-common to fry one while you are trying to get things worked out and started for the first time. Once the motor is all lined out and starts up easily, they tend to last a lot longer.

Bobby68 · July 9th, 2011, 07:26 PM

alright so the engine cranks and everything, but it isnt cranking with the actual ignition, mostly everything is hooked up neutral safety switch is connected but theres one green wire sticking out from the firewall which has nothing attached to it and im pretty sure thats why its not working with the actual ignition, anyone know what that is?

June 28th, 2011, 10:54 PM	#1
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	Starting Problem alright so i got my distributor and connected everything, electrical works lights go on wipers etc, now heres the problem i turned the key and VOILA! nothing not even a crank of the engine.... just silence. Any suggestions of what might be wrong?

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June 28th, 2011, 11:21 PM	#2
ajzride Regular 1965 Mustang Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 483 iTrader: 0 reviews	If you have silence I'm assuming you're not hearing the starter roll the motor? In that case, check the solenoid, it should be on the firewall somewhere close to the battery. It is a little black box with 4 posts on it: The battery goes into the left-most, the starter comes off the right most, and the ignition switch start position goes into the middle left. You can always test the solenoid by disconnecting the starter, putting a jumper wire between the two left posts (where the battery and ignition switch go) and checking the starter side for 12V with a multi-meter. If you have 12V there, then remove the jumper and have someone hold the key while you check for 12V, if you don't have it there then there is a problem with your ignition switch, or the wiring in between. If you do have 12V, then check the wire going to the starter, make sure it is connected cleanly on the right post. If it is connected properly, then take the starter up to the parts store and have them test it. If you already knew all of that, then sorry to insult your intelligence.

June 28th, 2011, 11:34 PM	#3
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	its all good man im pretty much starting out so im open to any type of advice ill come back later to see what happens thanks

June 29th, 2011, 11:08 PM	#4
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok so a little update, i realized the starter wasnt connected <<<<good one right? so i went out connected the battery and not even the lights work theres no spark in the battery either... maybe the solenoid is gone im thinking? i put the screw driver on the solenoid and also got nothing. Sorry for the rookie questions im new at this just starting out my project for my dream car

June 29th, 2011, 11:37 PM	#5
ajzride Regular 1965 Mustang Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 483 iTrader: 0 reviews	I'm confused. Yesterday your lights and wipers worked. Today you hooked the starter up to the solenoid and now nothing works?

June 30th, 2011, 04:25 AM	#6
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	Yea i thought that was strange.... battery wont spark or anything, attached the neg and positive wires to a battery charger and also nothing worked im stumped...

June 30th, 2011, 08:52 AM	#7
ajzride Regular 1965 Mustang Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 483 iTrader: 0 reviews	The solenoid needs to ground to the fender well, make sure it has a good connection. Also make sure the started is grounded against the bell housing good.

June 30th, 2011, 08:48 PM	#8
SStang67 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 36 iTrader: 0 reviews	you might have fried a fuse or two in the process. check that for lights and stuff. No crank would be solenoid or starter or ignition problem.

July 5th, 2011, 02:35 AM	#9
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	alright a little update, not the solenoid damn it, i checked the fuses they look ok but im going to take them out and check them thoroughly tomorrow just to make sure and ill get back to you guys on that. thanks for the help and keep the advice coming really appreciate it

July 5th, 2011, 09:53 PM	#10
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	alright, if i forgot to mention also when i connect the negative and positive wires to the battery terminals they dont give a spark like they usually do they do nothing actually, battery isnt dead i know that because i charged it, maybe something isnt grounding right?

July 5th, 2011, 11:41 PM	#11
ajzride Regular 1965 Mustang Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 483 iTrader: 0 reviews	Do you have a multimeter? If so: Set it to DC Volts: - check the positive to Negative -- < 11.5V Bad battery - check positive to block -- < 11.5V bad ground Set to tone - check positive to block -- tone = grounded out on block - check positive to chassis -- tone = grounded out on chassis -

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July 6th, 2011, 11:47 AM	#12
1996 GT Traction...? 1996 GT/ 2008 GT Vert Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,215 iTrader: 0 reviews	^ i had that issue. Or check your ignition switch, had that issue too. Can you get it to turn over from jumping the solenoid?

July 7th, 2011, 06:50 PM	#13
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	Alright guys i figured out what it was, and indeed it was the solenoid, that duralast crap dont last even a month lol. i went got myself a new one and now she cranks up and breathing. thanks a lot guys for your advice

July 9th, 2011, 07:26 PM	#15
Bobby68 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22 iTrader: 0 reviews	alright so the engine cranks and everything, but it isnt cranking with the actual ignition, mostly everything is hooked up neutral safety switch is connected but theres one green wire sticking out from the firewall which has nothing attached to it and im pretty sure thats why its not working with the actual ignition, anyone know what that is?