Car will not start and I have a low idle?

JTWHATLEY

MEMBER
1989 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
5.0L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
117,117 MILES

I had people tell me it's my starter and it's a safety mechanism. I parked the car at a gas station to fill her up and she would not start, I turned the ignition and nothing at all, the starter wouldn't even go at all and no crank, the lights on the dash turn on. Another thing that I have wrong is that it is idling too low, it's supposed to idle a little over 1,000 RPMs but it idles at 500 if not 600 RPMs and I believe it's the timing belt because she has new spark plugs.

The alternator is fine and the battery, I checked them both.

1 Reply

AL514

MECHANIC
4,795 POSTS

Hello, if you have a no crank situation you need to check for power (12volts) at these two locations on the Starter motor, circled in green on the wiring diagram below. As for the idle speed, it should only have a higher idle when the engine is cold, once it gets to operating temperature the idle should come down and be somewhere around 600 to 700 rpm. If its idling at 1000 rpm all the time, then you have a vacuum leak somewhere or carbon build up on the throttle plates or idle air control valve not allowing them to close all the way or adjust to maintain the correct idle speed. Diagnose the starting issue first then address the idle concern. Below are guides to help check the starter motor to verify its receiving voltage from the Starter Enable Relay. Alot of the time on these older vehicles they get corrosion in the connectors or wire damage due to normal engine vibrations, especially in areas where the wiring harness is in contact with engine block or brackets. But there should be 12 volts on both of the wires going to the Starter motor when it is being cranked over.

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-starter-and-solenoid-works

Images (Click to make bigger)