so I got in my maverick, turned the key and nothing happened. I checked the wires, nothin. So I hit it a few times with a broom stick to losen the brushes and it started right up. So should I start looking for a new starter? or is this just a one time thing? Its started up fine a few times since so Iam not too worried or anything. I just like to fix problems before I get stranded somewhere. Thanks
Starter froze up today
- Thread starter 250mav
- Start date
A
Anonymous
Guest
When you turned the key, was there a click, or just dead silence?
no click, just silent but everything had power like the lights and gauges. so the battery wasnt dead. The brushes in the starter just got messed up untill I hit it a few times, then it was good. As far as I know its the original starter so after 30 years and 100k miles it could probably use a new one anyway.
A
Anonymous
Guest
If all it was was the starter, then when you turned the key you would have heard the starter relay on the fender 'click'. If you heard it click then you could have a bad starter, bad/dirty/corroded electrical connections including the battery to relay or relay to starter. If you did not hear a click then you could have a bad starter relay, bad/dirty/corroded terminals on the starter relay, bad ignition neutral safety switch, bad key, or any of the above problems.
If the lights flickered badly when you tried the starter, you would have a weak battery or bad/dirty/corroded battery connections.
First check all the connections for cleanliness, no rust, and so on. Then if it happens again, using veeerrry heavy wire, jumper both both large terminals of the starter relay together to see if the starter turns. MAKE SURE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON AND THE TRANNY IS IN PARK!!!!
Doc
If the lights flickered badly when you tried the starter, you would have a weak battery or bad/dirty/corroded battery connections.
First check all the connections for cleanliness, no rust, and so on. Then if it happens again, using veeerrry heavy wire, jumper both both large terminals of the starter relay together to see if the starter turns. MAKE SURE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON AND THE TRANNY IS IN PARK!!!!
Doc
nitrousnick
Well-known member
you are going to need a new starter ,the brushes are worn out
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Anonymous
Guest
I once took a starter that was not working correctly. Disassembled it, and cleaned it, and it has worked fine since. After dozens of years of with a manual tranny, there was a bunch of grime from the clutch etc that had worked its way in the starter and was preventing the solenoid from working properly.
Doug
Doug
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Anonymous
Guest
yeah but a a starter is cheap and easy to change so you might as weel do it to avoid being stranded
plus, its shiney....
plus, its shiney....
I went to autozone and got the starter+solinoid. so I'll get on it asap. Both cables and the battery are new so they shouldnt give me any problems. The battery was ment for a big block oldsmobile, will this cause any type of overload with the extra juice? Did it cause my problem in the first place?
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Anonymous
Guest
Starters are a funny anomoly. They work just about opposite of any other kind of electronic device. The faster it turns, the less current it uses. Double the voltage and you quadruple the power. Freeze it up and you can turn a 4 guage copper wire into a giant matchstick. If you slowly lower the voltage to a resistor, or lamp, or heater, that device just gets cooler or dimmer. But lower the voltage to a starter and you had better have fire insurance.
If you have a high compression motor (probably not on a mustang) starters don't last long. But put that same starter on a low compression engine and it might last 15 years. If you have a loose or dirty connection in your high current path (the big red and black wires) you will be kicking yourself in the head troubleshooting the problem (that is unless you encountered that problem before and learned).
In my lifetime I have rebuilt over thirty thousand starters, thirty thousand alternators (and generators), thousands of selonoids, regulators, and devices I never even knew existed until someone brought them to me to be repaired.
Ninety percent of the causes of bad or burnt starters (90%!) are bad batteries. If I had to guess without any information what caused a starter to go bad, I would have to say the battery. The next cause of starting problems is dirty terminals. The third cause of starting problems is a faulty relay (if you knew the horror stories about relays, you would change yours every two years without question), and the final (itsy bitsy tiny percent) are things like a neutral safety switch or ignition switch.
One time a woman came to my sisters complaining about her gorgeous 76 Electra Limited and all its problems. She was even considering selling it. She had replaced the starter, the alternator, the ignition coil, the ignition module, and so on. I asked her what it would be worth to her to solve the problem. She said "$50.00 dollars."
I told her to change the battery. She yelled at me for what seemed like an hour refusing to believe that no mechanic has yet to tell her that and that I was way out in left field. As, at the time, I was heading into the military and had a long drive still to go I just shrugged it off and started my journey into my military life.
At basic training, I received a call from my sister . She said that her friend wanted to know where to send the 50 bucks.
I guess what I am trying to say in my usually NOT short fashion is that before you change a starter, test and troubleshoot all you can, and make sure your battery is good.
Doc
If you have a high compression motor (probably not on a mustang) starters don't last long. But put that same starter on a low compression engine and it might last 15 years. If you have a loose or dirty connection in your high current path (the big red and black wires) you will be kicking yourself in the head troubleshooting the problem (that is unless you encountered that problem before and learned).
In my lifetime I have rebuilt over thirty thousand starters, thirty thousand alternators (and generators), thousands of selonoids, regulators, and devices I never even knew existed until someone brought them to me to be repaired.
Ninety percent of the causes of bad or burnt starters (90%!) are bad batteries. If I had to guess without any information what caused a starter to go bad, I would have to say the battery. The next cause of starting problems is dirty terminals. The third cause of starting problems is a faulty relay (if you knew the horror stories about relays, you would change yours every two years without question), and the final (itsy bitsy tiny percent) are things like a neutral safety switch or ignition switch.
One time a woman came to my sisters complaining about her gorgeous 76 Electra Limited and all its problems. She was even considering selling it. She had replaced the starter, the alternator, the ignition coil, the ignition module, and so on. I asked her what it would be worth to her to solve the problem. She said "$50.00 dollars."
I told her to change the battery. She yelled at me for what seemed like an hour refusing to believe that no mechanic has yet to tell her that and that I was way out in left field. As, at the time, I was heading into the military and had a long drive still to go I just shrugged it off and started my journey into my military life.
At basic training, I received a call from my sister . She said that her friend wanted to know where to send the 50 bucks.
I guess what I am trying to say in my usually NOT short fashion is that before you change a starter, test and troubleshoot all you can, and make sure your battery is good.
Doc
