YACT: Solenoid or Starter

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

This insane. Now i have to drive over there, and get into a yelling match with that manager.

I take it your car is working?

Yep .... it turned out the starter was bad. Now it starts just fine... thanks for the help btw!

Man, I was certain it was a light being left on or something!

Lol, and i can see why. I asked the mechanic what happened. And from what i understand the solenoid engages the starter which spins (correct me if i am wrong). Apparently there was rust or friction of somesort that wouldn't allow it to spin.

Once again i could be WAY OFF, but for some reason that stuck in my mind. It would also explain the little "click" of the solenoid engaging but the engine not turning.

It does take ~5 secs of holding the key there for the car to start cold though. But 99,328 miles, what do ya expect

Thanks a lot for all the help and suggestions guys. (I believe the started was like $300 or something , but my dad who is AWESOME paid for the transmission oil to be changed as well as the new starter. As long as i keep the car clean and change the oil (along with no accidents and tickets) i suppose he will keep doing that.

-Kevin

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Ornery

1. Sounds like the battery to me!

Just replaced it, theres no way.

Also if it were the battery, wouldn't the car just sit there when i turned the key. If it were the battery why would the car click and the engine turn. Also why would the lights on the dash flicker when i turn on the car?

-Kevin

ok sorry, but didn't you just answer your own question? it's because you have a dead battery.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Ornery

1. Sounds like the battery to me!

Just replaced it, theres no way.

Also if it were the battery, wouldn't the car just sit there when i turned the key. If it were the battery why would the car click and the engine turn. Also why would the lights on the dash flicker when i turn on the car?

-Kevin

ok sorry, but didn't you just answer your own question? it's because you have a dead battery.

See my latest post

No, what it turned out....again correct my because i may be talking about something else.

The clicking i heard was the solenoid switch trying to start the starter. The starter apparently had a lot of rust which therefore made more friction. So when it tried to spin, it would meet too much resistance. Again, im not 100% sure if thats how it works.

Ya know what, let me ask my dad ... ill post back if it was something different than how i described it.

-Kevin

 

[Ornery]

Starter Bendix

• The bendix is the spring loaded gear assembly that engages the flywheel teeth.

If it wasn't the bendix sticking, I'm guessing the relay/solenoid had corrosion on its main contactor plate, and didn't conduct enough power to the starter when it was energized. Too bad, that's an easy to access, $5.00 part on old Fords.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well these mechanics are our favorite. They always will help us out with something cheaper. These guys really care

My dad wasn't even that sure what was wrong. The mechanic told us that "the points were worn down". Perhaps you can decipher what that means, but neither of us are sure

At any rate it starts now...Yippee ! I dont think i could drive my moms Chrysler Town and Country again. If i didn't have to get to work, i probably would have gotten a ride. On a side note though, that 3.8 Liter engine HAULS ASS. It revs to the red line before it shifts.

Ornery, since you seem to know all about cars, have you heard anything about Chrysler's transmissions. The thing is ROUGH, and then when i hit the gas in the car the tach rises a little bit and then falls a little before the car really starts picking up acceleration. Would that mean that the transmission is starting to slip. My dad said, that Chrysler is not known for their transmissions. Be that as it may, would a good transmission oil change help out at all?

-Kevin

 

[Ornery]

If by "points", you mean contacts, that's the red parts of this diagram.

You could get normal service done on that tranny, which would be a flush and new fluid & filter installed. There may be a vacuum controlled module in there as well, but that may be old school stuff. God knows how these new computer controlled components are handled, I don't!

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Ornery
If by "points", you mean contacts, that's the red parts of this diagram.

You could get normal service done on that tranny, which would be a flush and new fluid & filter installed. There may be a vacuum controlled module in there as well, but that may be old school stuff. God knows how these new computer controlled components are handled, I don't!

Lol. Im going to advise my dad to get the transmission flushed and new fluid and what not like you said. It jumps when actually starting after putting it in drive sometimes, the downshifts can get a little lengthier than normal, as well as the aforementioned problem.

As for the solenoid. Shoot, as far as i know that could be the problem.

--Kevin