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Electrical: Engine Starting, Charging
ignition switch, neutral safety switch or clutch safety switch. A low battery and/or
loose or corroded battery cables can also prevent the starter from cranking the
engine.
On the Car:
When troubleshooting the starter, pay close attention to the wire/cable connections.
The starter needs a healthy shot of juice to get going so you need to clean all
contacts. Just because they appear OK when the starter is not engaged doesn't
mean that they are good enough to do the job. Check ground straps. Make sure
your fuses are clean. Check any other device on the starter circuit (if any).
Make sure your battery is OK - turn your headlights, fan, rear de-mist etc. all
on and check the voltage - should be at least 11V. If it's less than 9 or so you
may not have enough power to turn the engine over.
Test the battery terminals - should be clean and tight. If your starter won't
turn I'd remove and clean them, then coat them with some Vaseline and put
back. Also test the connection between the wires and the terminals - again,
should be tight and clean. The usual symptom of loose connections here is
that the starter solenoid 'clicks' but the engine doesn't turn.
Test the + wire (the big thick one) connection on the starter. Again, this
should be a good connection. The starter draws several hundred amps, and a
connection that's not 100% is quite likely to drop most of the battery voltage
across it.
Make sure the starter is bolted to the engine properly - the current goes
through the starter and block. Also make sure the engine is grounded - it
should have a big earthing strap, or sometimes the battery - terminal is
connected directly to the block - either way, make sure the contacts are good.
If all of the above check OK, simply put a wire from the battery + to the starter -
connect it to where the thin wire goes. This should make the engine turn over (but
not start unless the ignition is on). If the engine turns, it means that you have a
problem in the wire between the ignition switch and the starter; If it doesn't, the
starter is faulty: If you don't hear a 'click' the solenoid is to blame, otherwise the
starter motor itself.
Starter Will Not Engage: Start Inhibitor Switch.
[Symptoms: I have an 89 740GL that sometimes starts but sometimes does not.
When I turn the key the car simply will not turn over: no starter response on key
to "start". However, all of the panel lights, the battery level and starter assembly
are good. When this happens I usually put the car in Neutral and then back in Park
which usually works allowing the car to start.]
[Response:] If your car is an automatic, like my wagon, make sure that the start
inhibitor switch located under gear indication panel is not out of adjustment. A
simple test is to push the selector forward or back a little in the P position (the only
one the car should start in) as you turn the key. If the car starts, crawl under and
adjust the rod just a little and the problem should be solved once and for all.
Failing this option, check the switch and wires associated with the lockout switch.
file:///C|/Users/Steve/Documents/Volvo%20FAQ%20Updated/ElectricalStarting.html[01/13/14 10:02:47 PM]
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