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Stratus starter issue: solved I think #2486412
04/22/18 02:31 PM
04/22/18 02:31 PM
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Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing Offline OP
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peabodyracing  Offline OP
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My trusty 2005 Stratus failed me for the 1st time yesterday morning. For 186,000 miles it's never missed a beat. It's the 4 cylinder engine.

I went to start it and just got a "click" at the starter. Figured the battery may have given up the ghost as the car had been sitting 3-4 days.

Charged the batter for 6 hrs. No change. Checked lights, fan blower, fuel pump, etc and everything is bright and does not act like a weak battery. Just to be sure, I switched out the battery with the same 'click' results.

Took the starter out and it bench tested fine. I put a bar on the ring gear just to make sure the engine was free. Took the starter to OReilly and had them test it and it passed just fine.

After cleaning up all connections, all wires, the places where the starter mounts to the block, etc, I put it back in and still no change.

I recalled a recent thread here on starters and costs, and re-read that as there'd been mention of contacts that wear on them. Is it possible the starter will bench test under no load but not work properly when in place because of these contacts?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.


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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: peabodyracing] #2486414
04/22/18 02:34 PM
04/22/18 02:34 PM
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Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
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If it was me, I'd go buy a cheap junkyard starter and try it. The only time I had a starter click and not turn, engine was stuck, bad battery or starter. Sounds like you ruled out 2 of 3 for sure.


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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: peabodyracing] #2486444
04/22/18 04:07 PM
04/22/18 04:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
T
therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
T

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Niles , Ohio
Had the same problem with the wifes Pt.Pull starter and it runs good.Wont start car.Get reman and it works for about 2 weeks and same thing.Found out it was first the batt wire gettin a bit loose.Then had a problem with the small exciter wire.Played with it and all was good.Oh yeah the OE starter with 163 was probally bad.Rocky


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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: therocks] #2486486
04/22/18 06:31 PM
04/22/18 06:31 PM
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Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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As you know "clicking" is from inadequate current so I would retrace your steps till you find the poor connection. EDIT Might even be in the ground path.

Last edited by RapidRobert; 04/22/18 07:18 PM. Reason: missed something

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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: RapidRobert] #2486667
04/23/18 01:33 AM
04/23/18 01:33 AM
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garnett kansas
rhad Offline
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my bet is on the solenoid contacts being bad,easy to replace along with the exciter ring,when i did my dakota the parts cost 6$

Last edited by rhad; 04/23/18 01:34 AM.

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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: rhad] #2486730
04/23/18 09:38 AM
04/23/18 09:38 AM
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Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing Offline OP
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peabodyracing  Offline OP
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Thanks for the input guys.

Yesterday I pulled the starter back out. Re-cleaned all contact points.

Also load tested the battery just to be certain on that. Battery fully charged and passed fine.

Replaced the solenoid plunger and contacts on the starter. Bench tests fine. Put it back in and no change. Just a solid sounding click but no movement.

I disconnected the small solenoid wire and jumped 12 volts with a separate wire and the starter motors over normally. Guess my next step is to get a voltage reading on the solenoid wire when the ignition switch is on start, but I'm starting to think like Robert mentioned there's something amiss on the ground side.

Last edited by peabodyracing; 04/23/18 09:43 AM.

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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: peabodyracing] #2486735
04/23/18 09:54 AM
04/23/18 09:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
T
therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
If you jump the small wire and it cranks over grounds should be good.If its like the PT the connector on solonoid is the problem.They have a tendency to lose contact.The wifes PT would start for weeks then just click.It was the small wire.Rocky

Last edited by therocks; 04/23/18 09:54 AM.

Chrysler Firepower
Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: therocks] #2486771
04/23/18 12:29 PM
04/23/18 12:29 PM
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Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Actually since it cranks good when jumped, the ground path is OK. Work upstream from the solenoid wire you jumped till you find the poor connection.


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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: RapidRobert] #2487144
04/24/18 09:32 AM
04/24/18 09:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing Offline OP
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peabodyracing  Offline OP
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You're right. As usual I start over thinking things. I was going back to an intermittent start problem I had with a Ram truck a few years ago. On that one they somehow grounded the starter circuit rather than apply 12 volts. Never did make sense to me.

Chasing the small wire.

Thanks again.


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Re: Stratus starter issue [Re: peabodyracing] #2487574
04/24/18 11:37 PM
04/24/18 11:37 PM
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Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Quote:
As usual I start over thinking things.
That's the story of my life!


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Re: Stratus starter issue: solved I think. [Re: RapidRobert] #2487877
04/25/18 05:53 PM
04/25/18 05:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing Offline OP
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Well, it turns out it was a ground problem after all. The computer grounds the starter relay and that ground was weak; enough to flip the solenoid but not enough to hold the circuit and spin the starter motor.

It didn't appear that circuit did anything else of importance, so just clipped the ground wire from the starter relay and grounded it directly to the chassis. Works fine now.

Time will tell!

Thanks once again for your input.


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