Really strange.....

[DrumrBoy]

Really weird thing just happened.

Ran the car and then tried to start it. Absolutely nothing, zip nada....no solenoid action, no partial turn of the starter motor...nothing....as if the ignition key and the starter were absolutely not connected.

Wait 60 minutes...everything is cool and it starts fine. Get it hot and nothing.

I've experienced weakened starters before, but they usually make some effort....solenoid pull, partial strained turn, something. Hot starts have always been an issue with my high HP Chevy, but there's always some indication that the starter is trying, even if it fails to turn the engine over.

I assume this is a weakened starter motor (read:replacement) but thought I'd check with ya'll to see if there was some native Viper weirdness that I was happening upon for the first time.

Anybody ever experience this symptom?

 

[DrumrBoy]

Almost seems like a connection that is 100% open when hot, then as things cool and shrink the connection is restored. I checked the leads close to the starter and everything looks OK....haven't run continuity on it while hot but will soon.

Just looking for any advise if anyone's ever experienced this before.

 

[PhilC]

I was going to guess pcm but then remembered you dont have one. When this is happening, do you get any reading on the battery charge? Perhaps an intermittent ground issue. Sorry man I know this was of no help. I hope someone knowledgable chimes in HOW BOUT IT DAVE????

 

[PhilC]

btw, mine will be in the shop for a while so if you want to do any trial and error stuff I can send you parts from mine to try.

 

[dave6666]

OK. I'm all for this.

I just looked at the starter wiring diagram in my '01 manual. A quick review of involved components...

-> 2 fuses in the mix. Normally not heat sensitive items.

-> Ignition switch (key switch). Normally not heat sensitive item.

-> Clutch interlock switch. Could be weak. Would keep in mind.

-> Starter motor relay in PDC. Could be weak. Would keep in mind.

-> Battery. How old is yours? Now it is away from the heat, but could still have an issue. Should we assume that while the starter is in nada mode everything else works? Headlights bright? Radio will blast?

-> Starter motor. Right next to engine, and you've already given yourself a class on that.

-> Cables and wires. Bad connections usually have obvious problem signs, but not always. Start with the big fat cables, including at the battery.

Another good check would be assuming you can replicate this problem, is when it won't start see if the starter motor relay in the PDC is switching. They don't make much racket but with a helper to turn the key put your finger on it and feel for the slight click.

If it is not switching pull it and look at the plug base for damage just for grins.

Also if it is not switching, that ain't the starter or the battery's fault. Unless of course, everything is also dead. No lights, no tunes etc.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

As Dave said...

-> Battery. How old is yours? Now it is away from the heat, but could still have an issue. Should we assume that while the starter is in nada mode everything else works? Headlights bright? Radio will blast?

First thing I would check, especially if you have an older Optima, I had some really wierd "back from the dead" experiences with one once. Especially if the Optima ever needed a jump or a charge as it's really hard to get one to take a good charge, there have been threads about it.

Dave you ought to write up a thread about "It won't start" Take some pictures of the various areas you described checking and we would put it in the upgrades section so it's easy to find. It's flat out the most common question asked here, it would be nice to have a complete tutorial on what steps to analyze and in what order.
We can offer Beer at VOI if it helps.

 

[DrumrBoy]

Thanks Phil, Dave and Lee.

I didn't even think about the clutch switch....I may have messed it up when I changed the slave recently. That would actuall explain the total dead zone.....my battery is 3 years old and, yes, even when the starter won't work, the 1000 watts of AC/DC blasts just fine!

I already checked the fuses and they're OK.....

Thanks again for the ideas. I'll have at 'em when I get back in town.