No start problem on a "first fire"

Thanks guys. Mine is old and looks like crap. For all one of theose costs from NAPA, I shlod get one anyhow. All things kind of point in the direction of that part anyhow. Thanks for all of the help. If this doesn't fix it, I'll return for more brainstorming. Thanks again!!! Jason

i'll be replacing mine when teh rebuild is finished - the one currently on my car is pretty nasty as well, though my main issue is with the connectors that go into the lower part of the relay. when you replace yours (if you do), i'd go ahead and replace the ends on all of the wires

Ok, I changed the relay that was pictured above. It still only clunks when I turn the key. I noiced another relay beside it that has 2 wires coming off of the plug on the freshly changed relay to this relay I have pictured. If this 2nd relay is bad, could this also cause the clunk? It looks to be as old as the first one.

IU will be happy if this would still be my problem. What else could it be other than this relay? If I replace it, both relays will be new as well as the battery and starter. All of my grounds are now hooked up. What are your thoughts?

Try to jump the 2 terminals right on the starter and see what happens. Make sure that it is out of gear and or in Park. If the starter isn't bad it should turn over there.

I also just got to thinking.... the new relay I bought. The "stud" that the positive terminal bolt to is loose. In other words, it will spin and I had to hold it and the nut to tighten the nut to lock the positive wire. Could I have gotted a bad new relay, or is it ok for that stud to be loose? ( My old one wasn't)

Looks like it !

it should not be loose. tighten it up all the way & try it & see if your good but I would be inclined to get another one as you wouldn't want to chance on being majorly inconvenienced by a "no crank" at the wrong time from such an inexpensive part. EDIT with this being a new breakin you might switch the key to "on" & see if the ecu/ballast/coil are all getting fire & jump the coil neg to ground to see if you ARE getting spark from the coil secondary wire as you want it to fire IMMEDIATELY then at the relay jump the "batt" to the brown solenoid wire to get it cranking/started. Easier with several helpers which would be a good idea to have them there at breakin, one to add trans fluid one to check for leaks one to adj the idle speed screw & you in the driver seat to watch the gauges & shout orders . With a sucessfull breakin you will feel better about fixing the relay problem when you are done and read this article "break in secrets" at www.mototuneusa.com and when you immed get the rpm up to ~2500 or so rap the throttle many times during the 20 minute breakin.

Ok, I jumped the terminals on the new starter relay. The starter again, just clunked. I found out that the relay I pictured above is just for the Dash asscess. etc. I don't think this would make the starter clunk, but I am getting one anyhow. Is it possible that the starter could just be in a bind? I hate the thoughts of taking that starter out of this car.The starter is only 1 year old abd literally only has about 20 starts on it. What else could my problem be?? I am getting frustrated and stumped.

(carefully)w a screwdriver jump the 2 terminals on the starter itself. If no crank & lots of sparks then it is getting enough current & the starter needs to come out.

Ok, I finally had time to screw around with the car tonight. I double checked every thig we have discussed so far. Same results. I decided to put the car up on jack stands and try to see if the starter was in a bind. I figured while I was down there, I would take off the dust sheild on the bottom of the front of the transmission. I found that the small gear that kicks back to turn the torque converter to start it was still in the teeth of the converter. I loosened the starter mount bolts and wiggled the starter around and nothing happened. I tapped on the bottom of the starter with a large extension, and the little gear popped back into the starter. I figured,"great, that was it I am good to go." I put everything back together and hit the key and....Clunk. I crawled back under the car, took the inspection cover off and the gear was back out. I didn't loosen the starter this time, i just tapped the starter again and while the gear was out, I shot a little carb cleaner up at it hopefully to "ungum" it. I tried to start it again, and Clunk. I repeated those stepas again about 5 more time with the same results. Is the starter bad, or something else? Thanks for your answers and patience.

Will the engine turn over with a wrench on the crank shaft??? I am wondering if the engine is stuck.

Yes, It is a new rebuild. I turned it be hand (socket and breaker bar), to put it both in time and to turn the crank when I was priming the oil pump. The transmission was already hooked to the motor including the flexplate and torque converter. The only thing I added after I turned the motor by hand was the radiator and dist. and wires. I didn't check it tonight, but I don't know why or how it could have locked up since then. (I timed it on Memorial Day weekend.)

Read My Lips:

REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE.

That is all.

Greenblurr........ If this is the problem, and I think there is no doubt, I could kiss you!!!!!(but you are probably a big hairy guy, so I won't.) I took the starter out tonight and after all of the swearing and straining and farting involved in taking out the starter in a big block e body, I found the end of the positive cable where it bolts to the top of the starter looking like this. Think this may be the problem??? Thanks guys for all of the help. I am going to get the starter checked again anyhow , since it is out. Jason






that figures... the picture won't load. anyhow, the bottom looks like it was chewed off and out of the big thick cable, only about 1/3 of the copper cable strands are still connected.