Starting System Dead

[tedtice]

I went to start my 1992 ES300 and it was dead - nothing. I was able to jump start it after about 15 minutes. Brought it back home and parked it to check battery. Autozone said battery was fine. Took starter to Autozone and they said it was fine also. put them back on and began looking into circuit. I have new terminals on the battery so corrosion should not be the problem.

Here's the symptoms:

Hook up charger to battery to jump start and everything comes on with key in acc position. I turn to crank and the first time it acted like the starter wanted to move, but very little.

I try it again and from this point on nothing moves with the starter at all. All I hear is the starter relay fluttering under the dash. Then everything dies. No power to anything at all, like a protection circuit flipped. No power anywhere. If I wait about 5 minutes it must reset and I can get power in acc position again. I took out the starter relay and put 12v and it seems to work fine.

What could be blocking power to the starter and making the relay flutter that way?

[SKperformance]

if you are postivaly sure you terminal are good and clean plus snug and the starter and solenoid are good also

then it might be the fusable link in the starter wire

or just the wire

[amf1932]

then it might be the fusable link in the starter wire

I thought a fusable link acts similar to a fuse?? Either it's good or it's blown.

[SKperformance]

it usually does do that

but some break and still have contact

so they let pwoer go through just not fullly

just like a broken wire

[tedtice]

I took the starter to both Autozone and Advance auto parts and both tested ok. I took off the ground from battery to body and it was clean. I don't see any fusible link in the starter wiring yet. Do you know where it would be? How else could I check the starter wire. It is bundled with the harness and tracing it might be difficult.

Thanks for your help!

[todd332]

Is it possible maybe your alternator froze up? I had this happen before and the vehicle would not turn over to start...your S-Belt

runs everything and with it being froze it will not start...

[tedtice]

I haven't looked at the alternator. I'll check that next as well. When this happened to you did the starter relay flutter and the entire electrical system die temporarily? I don't get any movement from the starter at all, I would think it would at least sound like the engine was in a bind or something.

[SKperformance]

ok i am not too sure

on the 92-93

but if it is anything like the 94 and up the starter wire

is very short maybe 2 feet

real easy to trace

i replaced mine and now the car starts perfect

and runs better

[steviej]

have you looked at the fuses in the fusebox in the engine bay? I wonder if any involved (especially fuses IGN or IGN2) are corroded or just need reseating.

steviej

[tedtice]

I checked all fuses and they all looked good, but it would be a good idea to take each one out and verify that they are clean and connected well. I have a long list of things to look into this evening. I appreciate all input so far!

[tedtice]

Well, it looks like an obvious part was overlooked. I had new battery clamps put on a while back at Pep Boys and one of the bolts was a little loose. I tightened it up and everything is ok.