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hi, ive had 2 instances of my car not cranking/starting. i go out to start the car, and no start. the lights,radio, etc, all work. i hear nothing coming from the starter/solenoid. jump starting does nothing. i get it towed home ( this is usually after midnight, i work afternoons). i can go out the next morning, and the car will start. im thinking something is loose, and the tow ride home does something to it. the thing i can think to check, is the cables at the starter, which im going to do this weekend. it has done this with 2 different batteries. im also going to replace the battery terminals. the shop put new ones on, and they are all distorted. so does anyone have any other suggestions? i would so appreciate the help…..debbie
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You may want to get one of those OBD2 Bluetooth dongles that work with a smartphone app in logging and monitoring OBD2 data so that you get at least some information saved if it does happen again. It may or may not capture the specific info you need, but at least you’ll have something.
I have no experience with them so I wouldn’t know which specific dongle and app pair to recommend but among apps Torque Pro seems to be the most popular. Maybe just get recommendations from the Torque Pro users which Bluetooth dongle works best.
ok, im back.i do have one of the readers. there were no codes to be had. i didnt get a chance to check it out like i wanted. but i did get another tow home tonite! there were a couple things i was able to check while waiting for a ride. i tried starting while going thru the gears, did not start. i switched the starter relay with ac relay. did not start, so switched them back. had the cover off pcm box. when my ride showed up, had them try starting while i listened. sounded like clicking coming from different relays. thats where i am now.
ok, car is in my driveway. as of now, its still not starting. i will check again in the morning. if still no start, i have a multimeter that i kinda know how to use. ive learned how to check the fuses. i think i should know how to test the whole pcm. could someone walk me thru using the multimeter? like where to set the dial, and where to check the pcm at? is there anything else i can check with this b4 i have to take to a shop? thanx everyone!
The PCM is probably not the first place to look (very likely the last!). Check the basics first — battery and starter. Typically you’ll need to set your multimeter on the 20V setting DC to check for battery voltage at the battery posts as well as where the charge needs to go to get your engine started. You may want to watch this video as a guide:
Watch the video in its entirety — the part about voltage drop tests is also important. Probably just skip the parts first that need specialized tools (battery load test) — if your car starts sometimes I doubt your battery’s the problem.
It seems to me your battery to starter connection has intermittent problems (loose somewhere? bad/corroded cables? intermittent relay?), but you really need to test one-by-one to rule out each component, starting with the battery and starter. You’ll need someone to help you turn the ignition while you check for battery voltage on the wire going to your starter solenoid.
Good luck!
Might suggest you turn on the head lights and have someone observe them as you try to crank the engine over.
If they dim out, you are likely looking at some type of excessive load in the starter circuit, a weak battery or faulty battery connection.
Here is the starting circuit wiring and relay box, this may be helpful.[quote=”chowceal” post=186805]on the voltage drop test, ignition needs to be disabled. is this as simple as pulling a relay?[/quote]
Simplest way would be to remove the fuel pump relay or fuse.
Here’s a nice document on voltage drop testing the starter, as well as charging circuits.
im baccccck! i had the van towed to a shop. and wouldnt you know it, it started up! but i talked to the guy at the shop, and i had the starter replaced. i had already excluded some things, so hopefully i will be good to go. i would like to thank everyone who contributed. and i also learned some things! thanx so much everyone! nothing personal, but i hope not to be back! lol….
you might want to check the fuse block wire that goes from the fuse block to the battery might be loose in my experience that can also cause no starts were it starts fine one minute and then wont crank the next because the fuse block system is getting intermittent power which the system thinks its a short so to protect the system the fuse block cuts power till its safe
hi everyone! ok, everytime van is in the shop, it starts. so now im going to put in a push button start direct to starter. ive ran the wire down to the starter, and there is a plug on the solenoid instead of a terminal. so how do i connect the wire that comes from the push button? im only going to use this setup when needed. TIA
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