Yesterday, my 92 decided to not start... To make matters worse, all my tools are at our new house!!!

It won't crank... Turn key click. 12.1 volts.

Tried to jump it 13.9 volts. Still just a click and nothing...

I am thinking starter is bad... Thoughts?

Same thing happened to mine a couple years ago. I blamed the battery. Went bought a new battery, same thing. Replaced the + cable. No help. New starter fixed it. Fairly easy job. Just don't let it hit you on the head on the way down. Ouch!

That sure sounds like a starter. Could be the solenoid. When mine went bad that is what it did. Click but no crank. Replaced solenoid and all has been well since. You could bench test it with a battery charger and put power directly to the starter and bypass the solenoid. If starter turns you found the problem. It is really tough to test on the car.

Possible solenoid, not strong enough to overcome the spring.
Also possible, bad contact - brushes to starter or one bad pad on the armature not letting current flow.

Smack it with a hammer & try again.

Quote:

I'd rap on it with a hammer/wrench and see if it goes. Sounds like a starter solenoid to me.

Matthew

Don't really have time to be fancy... Off to get a starter...

I agree gota get it running it is something simple.

Steve

Just had the starter shield off on my '91 Caprice to do a brake line replace.
First ever look at the terminals on the solenoid.
Corroded?...it's a wonder it started.

The starter is a reman from Advance Auto... it's 10 years old.

It still has a warranty, so I may claim in it! Have a spare that way.

The battery is a new (Oct 2010) Optima red top. The cables are new when I did the big engine out 2 years ago.

New starter = starting car.

Thanks for the confirmation!

I remember you had some really bad oil leaks you fixed.

I had a starter die on me when my rear main seal went.

Yup, soaked in oil

Those leaks are long gone. The starter was just old...

Back in the old days before fuel injection and computers the easy test was to turn on the headlights and turn the key. If the lights dimmed it was the battery. If the lights didn't dim, it was the solenoid.

That should still work today... Can't see why not.

Are the starting problems taken care of now? Was the problem the starter?

Steve

Starting is fine, thanks! I haven't had a chance to have the old one bugged out yet. I am going to have it locally rebuilt... that way I have a spare.

Was having the same problem recently.. after the car sat and cooled you might get the loud click no crank cycle the key a few times, click, click, crank.. if I shut it off after driving it and everything was warm it would crank no problem right away.. replaced the started no more issues..
-=Rick