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ok so my car suddenly wouldnt start, turn the key get a single loud click coming from the starter. try a bunch of times eventually it would turn over just fine.

so i thought first easiest thing check the battery, it was fine. replace all the battery cables(they were pretty old and nasty). still same thing. everyone says it sounds like a starter so today i spent ripping out the starter(biggest pain ever, made easier with ratcheting wrenchs though i blew 50 bucks on). got the starter tested it was fine(i was actually mad an expensive part tested OK). put that back in, then i looked over the fuses again. the ALT(ternator) fuse seemed odd. looks like the previous owner bypassed the ALT fuse with a wired soldered in its place. so i tried to go buy one but noone knew what it was. the fuse box lid(and haynes manual) label the fuse as 1.25B and they dont have anything like that. not sure if its Even a fuse or might be a relay or something who knows. but noone at the parts stores knows either.

so im stuck, if its not that fuse the next check will be the alternator, then after that the starter wire(not the one coming from the batt) looked a little corroded but i have No idea where it leads to from the starter.

so i just wanted to rant a little and share my learning experience ; )
being under the car for a good 5 hours in extrmeme heat is a fun time actually.

without knowing what kind of car it is...

possible cause is the starter solenoid. A lot of older vehicles have the solenoid mounted seperately on the firewall so testing the starter alone would not tell you if the solenoid is the culprit. It is basically another switch between the battery and the starter. If the solenoid is dead the you will get the same click as a dead battery would yield.

Also, if the solenoid is mounted on the starter, the type of test used to test the starter may not of caught the solenoid if they just bypassed it.

its an 87 toyota supra n/a

the solenoid is mounted on the starter. as far as the test goes, i dont know. it seemed to show alot of things(the guy didnt really want me behind the counter looking for whatever reason). but it listed off a good 6 things that passed, no failures. he hooked up probally 4-6 wires to the starter. id hope it tested everything.

the starter sure spun up strongly when tested.

go to yahoo groups and list your problem on carfix online group---somebody there will know.

A single loud click with a metallic 'clang' maybe? Is the engine free to turn? Try hooking the wires up to it under the car but don't install it in the block. Then get someone to turn the key while you hold the starter down(it will jump... keep your hands away from the bendix gear on the ned while playing this game). Sounds like a poor connection someplace in the starter system......

BuzZz wrote:A single loud click with a metallic 'clang' maybe? Is the engine free to turn? Try hooking the wires up to it under the car but don't install it in the block. Then get someone to turn the key while you hold the starter down(it will jump... keep your hands away from the bendix gear on the ned while playing this game). Sounds like a poor connection someplace in the starter system......

its just a click, almost sounds like an electric arc, not metallic at all. the motor once starter runs fine so im guessing the motor is fine and not having problems. i think ive tracked down a bad relay(actually a bypassed relay) that needs replacing going to try that then go from there, but its a pain to find this lil relay ugh.

Repeat after me.......


I HATE ELECTRICITY!!!

I know it doesn't help, but it makes me feel slightly better when I do it.