who needs a car that starts all the time

[beach17]

I own an 87 mat blue fiero with a 2.8 5speed and i am having a problem that i am hoping you all can give me some help me with.
My fiero likes to tease me every now and then it desides not to start. When i turn the key the lights dim and thats about it. this problem has been with me about 6 months and i have done everything i can think of to get it to stop and puch starting my car in parking lots is getting to be a pain after i push start it is works fine i can shut it off and it will start right up no problem and i have noticed that it happens more if i drive for long periods 2-3 hours but it still happend on the short trips as well, I have replaced most everything i can think of that would cause this as well as a few things just for the fun of it (egnition switch, fuses, alternater, starter (twice), battery, engine(from fierobuzz)) and the problem still appers somtimes its starts with a slow crank as if it was going to not start but then desids to. i have tried everything i can think of and would really like to here your input
thanks
chris  

[2ML67]

Sounds very strange, did you check the clutch start switch or is the starter even trying to turn over. Could also be a poor ground people seem to forget you need just as good a negative connection as a positive one. A better descriprion of what happens when it doesn't start might help like do you hear anything  is the solenoid engaging or is it just dead and nothing happens. Being an 87 you do not have a voltmeter so is your headlights bright when this is happening. This would help eliminate any bad power connections. If starter is engaging but just spinning you might have a couple of teeth missing off the flywheel. Is the purple wire on the solenoid in rough shape, the list goes on.
Now don't you just love cars, they are great when they work and a pain when they don't. Hope I have been of some help.

[aaron88]

I agree with 2ML67, about the grounding.  When you replaced your motor, did you make sure the engine was grounded well enough to the body?  If that's all dandy, then make sure your starter is well grounding to the block.  Depending how it's bolted on you may need to remove it and clean up the two joining surfaced then re-assemble.

Aaron

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[dguy]

...and here's another vote for checking your grounds!

[FieroBUZZ]

Hi Chris, hope the motor went well for you.  Back at school?

I'll add myself in here to the ground crew.  If you have the original side post battery cable, look there too.  That's what mine was.  The mating surface at the terminal is grooved not smooth and was really rusted up.  Look under the rubber cover and clean it up well.

Gary

[2ML67]

Hey does this mean the old fart I mean Gary is back on the e ways. Thing have been grim without him, as I personally chose Don to be the guy to make fun of instead unfortunately I couldn't come up with anything worse than he does all by himself.

[beach17]

well those are all the possablitys that i have looked at pretty much i have cleaned the terminal till is was shiny and new lol and pulled out the center screw from the terminals and ran it threw the wire wheel for both posts andand i have cleaned up the maiting serfaces for the starter and have looked over the wires for cracks or burns. i have also tested the cluch switch and its is working the volt meter does move when i turn the key and the lights do dim the starter makes no sound that i can here anyway no click or any sound of it spinniny this problem did exsit before i swaped engins as well its is i have traced my way threw it a number of times hoping that it is fixed but then i find my self along side my car pushing its instead of driving it lol i can sence sometimes that if i have been driving for a while that its going to do it so i will shut it off while in motion and try to start it and if its is dead then i pop the clutch and start it back up and then it will usualy be good to start then next time i shut it off lol
well hope this is a bit more discriptive thanks alot for your help

ps gary > the motor went in fine it was a little akward getting the car high enought to get the motor out but i got some people to lift the back end and i pulled out the motor lol

[aaron88]

Here is another possibility;

perhaps the switch in the column is a little week.  Try bypassing the ignition switch and install a push button start.  I have seen this problem on a couple of different cars.  It's much easier to install a new switch than it is to overhaul your ignition switch.

Before you install the switch put power to your starter wire (with the ignition on) one of the next times you are having the problem, if it goes right up then I think you found your problem.  It should be the 12 gauge yellow wire that goes through your wiring harness through the firewall on the passenger side and to connector C500 at your battery aria (talk about convenient).

Aaron

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[2ML67]

If I remember correctly the wire only stays yellow in the engine bay on auto cars, on manual cars it is purple after clutch switch so you should be able to check for power at the clutch switch under your dash above the pedal. If power there than it could be corrosion or bad connection in harness or in connector. As Aaron suggested it could be your ignition switch which is easy to change just lower column and there it is. The key cylinder portion only moves a rod working the ignition switch.

[beach17]

i have already tried replaceing the ingition switch but it never helped the problem i thought i would be that as well at first i have tested the wire at the cluch switch and there si power there i have not had a chance to follow the purple wire though because i am at school right now and i would have to do it outside and it so cold out lol so i will put that off for a little while

[aaron88]

My bad, I had an auto.

Next thing I can think of is to check all the connectors to make sure that they pass good current.  Not just checking that there is a connection because you know there is one, but checking that the connections pass good current.

Aaron

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[FieroBUZZ]

Okay, then I guess it must be elsewhere.
Battery is confirmed good?

Does it start up when the starter terminals are touched with a screwdriver? If so it's probably between the ign switch and battery.

The solenoid may be on the way out.

The starter may have the wrong amount of shims making it hard/impossible for the teeth to smoothly engage.  I had this on a car that needed to be rocked to start.

I'll ignore the mean remarks from the balmy lake area residents.  

[2ML67]

Hey if not you we all would just pick on someone else so you should feel privledged and accept this honour with pride.