So I went out to get in my STE this morning and it wouldn't even roll over. It does exactly what it does if you try to start it in gear...all the lights turn off and everything, but the starter doesn't turn over, and it doesn't even click or anything. It did this to me about a week ago, but I just waited ~20-30 minutes and it started fine and has since then until now. I think maybe some wires are shorted or melted or something, but I don't know what wires they are. I have a feeling that it isn't the starter. I am going to go out and buy a test light because for some reason I don't already have one, and then I'm gonna test the starter to see if it is getting power. If it is getting power, new starter, if not, I have to figure out what wire is bad.
I thought god910 had a similar problem to this lately, and maybe someone can help me or suggest what my problem may be.
I would really like to figure this out, because it is a nice, fun, quick car to drive.
Thanks,
Shawn
check the terminals on the battery to make sure you get a good ground. happened to me, especially in winter climates with salt and the dreaded corrosion.
If it does nothing it's most likely something to do with the battery.
Quote from: no1kickerIf it does nothing it's most likely something to do with the battery.
Agreed. Someone I know JUST went through something similar to this with his Lumina. It was having some idling issues, and we finally found it needed a new computer. Well, it ran fine for days after that, then suddenly, he went to start it Sunday morning, and it wouldn't do ANYthing. No lights, no click, nothing. Jumping it didn't help, either. I had the positive jumper cable on his external positive terminal. For the hell of it, I tried putting it directly up to the positive post on the battery itself. To our suprise, the lights went dead again when the power was applied to the battery. We removed the air intake and washer fluid reservoir and got to the battery. The terminal bolts were pretty freaking loose! :shock: Having become suspicious (especially since nothing was left on to cause the battery to die), we undid both terminals, and found that the threads on the bolts had basically disintegrated! So they had come loose after several days of driving (yet again, further evidence to justify my hatred for taking cars into mechanics. It wouldn't tighten at all. How can you miss that!!). Luckily, I had some brand new spare ones. We put them on, tightened them down, and viola! Started right up without a jump! Umm...so yeah, there you go. Check to make sure all the connections are tight.
Ok, so I went and bought a test light (should be very useful in the future) and got under the car. It had power running to it, and the relay kicked on and also had power when the key was turned (had my friend turn the key to start while I was under it with the test light). So it had power...however not enough power. I thought it was very odd, all of the 8 or so interior lights appeared to be as bright as usual, the headlights were as bright as usual, the dash lights seemed normal, and the stereo was as loud as ever and everything...however the battery just didn't have enough power to turn the starter over...odd. I jumped it with my friends car and it started right up, I'm kinda pissed that it was something that simple, but also glad because I don't have a bunch of $ to dump into it right now.
I wouldn't have even tried jumping it, but I called my dad and asked him if he could give me a ride to work because my car wouldn't start, and he filled me in on something. When he left for work in the morning evidently my interior lights were on (for some stupid reason...I hate them...they are easily triggered or something) so he closed a door more or something and got them to shut off. But then didn't tell me this, so I had no idea. Evidently the lights drained the battery enough that it wouldn't start, but it still had enough to power all of the accessories. Weird.
Thanks for all the suggestions...I really appreciate the help as always.
Thanks,
Shawn
I know you figured it out but I thought I'd throw my $.02 in. I had a similiar problem. Everything had power but when I turned the key, nothing. Ended up being the park/neutral safety switch on the tranny. I checked that first cause when I left work that morning the shifter didn't want to come out of park without some force. When it came out of park the switch broke.
I will add my info too, a few years ago my TSTE was also non-turnover
from time to time, It was the big electrical connector under the dash,
removed the bolt, took it apart and put it back together, never acted up
again.
Now my 98 GTP starts doing the same thing for about a week, I
re-seated the connector, yesterday, so far so good. what are the odds
I would get two cars with the same weird problem