Will not start

BAJABUDDYBOY

MEMBER
1996 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
122,000 MILES

Car won't start. Just get click out of starter solenoid.
Seemed like such a simply thing to fix. The battery is strong and clean. The cables the same as far as I can tell - at least at both ends. I simply replaced the starter and solenoid, but still get the same click in the solenoid. I took starter back and replaced it (deemed bad at parts house), but same thing. Took to another parts house and it bench tested okay. Reinstalled, but still no go.

I've checked the lines for loose or damaged wires, but nothing.
The car just wouldn't start one day after sitting in a parking lot for about one hour. No prior symptom's.
Any suggestions!

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

We need to start with doing what is called a voltage drop test on the wiring from the battery to the starter.

You do this by putting your meter on the battery positive post and then the other one the post with the red wire at the starter. If you have anything more then a half volt then you have resistance in the wiring. This is different then checking the resistance so make sure you meter is on voltage when checking this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

I am attaching the wiring diagram below for this as well.

However, the likely causes of this are a weak battery so make sure you are load checking the battery.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

If the battery and starter are okay, then you are loosing voltage somewhere to not be able to spin the starter. So this means we have a wiring or connection issue. Make sure you check both battery terminals and the grounds for the battery that they are clean and tight.

Please see the wiring diagram below and we can go from there. Thanks

Image (Click to make bigger)