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Hi everyone,

I've hoping you can help diagnose a 'no start' condition. When I turn the ignition to 'start' I get a single click and....nothing. The battery is brand new and charged, all the wires appear to be connected properly, I even replaced the starter. That was an education in and of itself.

The last few times I've tried to start the car, it gave me the single click once or twice. A few hours later, the car started fine. I'd drive it and park it, and then single click...nothing. Now I only get the single click, thus my decision to replace the starter. After installing the new starter, etc. still just a single click.

I really don't think the engine has seized, so...what else should I look at.

Thanks in advance,
Brian

I should probably add, the car is an automatic. Do these cars have a safety switch that requires the car to be in 'Park' or 'Neutral' to start? If so, I wonder if that's the culprit? It doesn't seem like it, because I would assume I wouldn't even get the single 'click', but that may be a bad assumption.

Thanks again,
Brian

Did you check all the wiring and everything after you put in the new starter? I was in a rush to put the starter on my car together and forgot a tiny wire which was the cause of the car being unable to start. I cleaned up the I have pretty much the same diagnosis as you're getting right now, just a single click. I would double and triple check all the wiring first. I sprayed a little throttle body cleaner and cleaned out the throttle body and put on that one missing wire and the car started right up.

That's helpful - I hooked everything up just like it was before I replaced the starter, but then again, it had quit starting before.  Does anyone have a picture, or know how the wires should be hooked up?

I know that the lead from the positive battery cable and the two red wires go on the stud with the 13mm nut.  The black/yellow wire with a spade connector was hooked up to terminal 50.  There is another spade connector with a red wire that was not hooked up, so I left it unconnected.  There is another connector on the solenoid - labelled 15d. 

Does that sound like the correct configuration to anyone?

Thanks for the input and help!
Brian

On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 9:54 PM, munkeeboi83 <keithkchu@gmail.com (keithkchu@gmail.com)> wrote:

Did you check all the wiring and everything after you put in the new starter? I was in a rush to put the starter on my car together and forgot a tiny wire which was the cause of the car being unable to start. I cleaned up the I have pretty much the same diagnosis as you're getting right now, just a single click. I would double and triple check all the wiring first. I sprayed a little throttle body cleaner and cleaned out the throttle body and put on that one missing wire and the car started right up.



1980 BMW 528i

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The gang of pos + connections at the battery smaller cable(s) may look and feel okay but they can cause your problem. Should be enough slack to cut the ends off and crimp/solder new lugs.....if you have'nt already.

Good to know - I'll take a look at those as well.  They may need cleaning up/re-crimping.

On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 5:42 PM, alotawatts <alotawatts@aol.com (alotawatts@aol.com)> wrote:

The gang of pos + connections at the battery smaller cable(s) may look and feel okay but they can cause your problem. Should be enough slack to cut the ends off and crimp/solder new lugs.....if you have'nt already.



Three E12's and one R27

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grumpsjr wrote:  They may need cleaning up/re-crimping.

Nope ! Cut off the old ends and replace with new lugs or get new cables.

The wire with the red stripe goes to the top spade connector on my e-12 starters. Try hooking it up. I always remind myself "Red on Top!".

Thanks a bunch - got it. I am beginning to appreciate more and more the profound wisdom of Lenny D and his constant vigilance about clean connections. The no start issue turned out to be marginal connections at the battery. Even though they were not corroded, they were not shiny bright clean.

Appreciate the advice!
Brian

You're welcome