[curley8788]

the car just started the other day. now i go to start it and nothing happens. interior lights, electric fan, coil, ignition box, etc that stuff all works. checked battery and its fine, terminals are new and getting voltage. i get voltage to the starter in the big end. i thought it was a solenoid so i replaced it with a whole new starter and no change. voltage to alternator as well... any idea what else is in the starter circuit to make this car not start?

 

[Dean]

Did you check for 12 volts (under load) at the starter's "S" terminal during cranking?

 

[curley8788]

Did you check for 12 volts (under load) at the starter's "S" terminal during cranking?

no i need another person to help me out with that. give me both scenarios though.



by the way, if i do the old screwdriver trick, the car will start.

 

[Philip]

My El Camino started doing the same thing a few weeks ago. It was the neutral safety switch out of adjustment. While holding the key in start, move the shifter and see if the starter engages. Another easy check is to see if the back up lights come on when the car is in reverse, if not the switch needs to be adjusted until the park/neutral and back up lights all function when the gear selector is in those positions.

 

[curley8788]

My El Camino started doing the same thing a few weeks ago. It was the neutral safety switch out of adjustment. While holding the key in start, move the shifter and see if the starter engages. Another easy check is to see if the back up lights come on when the car is in reverse, if not the switch needs to be adjusted until the park/neutral and back up lights all function when the gear selector is in those positions.

i installed a floor shifter with no neutral safety switch. i converted it from column shift. i wonder if my column shifted around at all?

 

[curley8788]

hahahahaha that was it! my damn column came out of park and into the reverse position causing the power to be cut off. thanks a million!

 

[Dean]

Well, IF I had to do it without help, I would grab a piece of wire about 10' long and attach IT to the "S" terminal and take it AND a meter into the cab with me.

First check at the neutral safety switch and do what Philip said.

{EDIT} I type too slow

 

[Philip]

Cool, glad I could help.

 

[trmnatr]

hahahahaha that was it! my damn column came out of park and into the reverse position causing the power to be cut off. thanks a million!

So does this mean race track tomorrow?

 

[curley8788]

no butch it does not. i have work 10 hours tomorrow and the HNRA boys have the track all weekend. i am going to yank this starter out and return it to get my 170 bucks back. i also want to get a toggle switch for the vacuum pump. i will do that this weekend and race tuesday for sure!

 

[rianbechtold]

i am going to yank this starter out and return it to get my 170 bucks back.

:sad:

 

[Lonnie67]

i will do that this weekend and race tuesday for sure!

Don't you need a working neutral safety switch to pass tech? I know I do, they check every time.

 

[curley8788]

:sad:

why the long face? i bought it TODAY, i didn't even start the car with it one time, and i am well within the return policy guidelines.

Don't you need a working neutral safety switch to pass tech? I know I do, they check every time.

not at my track, they are very lax. they don't even open the hood and i dont even have my driveshaft loop in yet. i swear i will bolt it up after i make 1 trip to the track...

 

[rianbechtold]

why the long face? i bought it TODAY, i didn't even start the car with it one time, and i am well within the return policy guidelines.

A little bit of diagnostics goes a LOOOOOONG way. I just think it's funny because every couple months there is that thread that pops up bashing parts store employees and this is like the other side of that. People complaining because the employee has to test the starter to verify it's bad, this is where those policies come from. The next guy who buys that starter will open the box and flip out because it is used and then come on here and trash talk the part store for selling used parts:yes:

 

[sschevellefan]

not to mention most places don`t give refunds on electrical componants. What kind of starter was it for $170? You can get take off GM mini starters on ebay for under $1000.

 

[OLDED]

The column neutral switch is a freat anti theft deterrent too. On these column to floor conversions, even if you smooth off the shifter bulge - leave all the wiring attached to the neutral switch on the column and just twist it when you leave it - to kill all the ignition contact. Wire the floor shifter in series to it and both are activated.

 

[Philip]

I welded mine in place after cutting off the arm.

 

[Dean]

Too bad you didn't come here and ask first
You could have saved yourself the labor and trouble of just throwing parts on.

 

[aukai]

Sorry, but the parts store in not like a library where you can borrow it and bring it back. I'm surprised that the store didn't check the old one for you.

 

[Lawson72]

LOL column shifter! Had the same prob...Put a floor shifter in my chevelle...Went threw the wiring...I felt like a complete idiot....It wasn't in park! Glad you got your prob fixed though