Starter Cranks, Pauses, Cranks

[willbur]

Greetings-
Today I was starting my car after a short drive. The starter cranked the engine quickly (as usual) but paused for about 1 sec and then quickly cranked the engine until it started. First time this happened. Car has about 30k miles on it and the fully charged battery is about a month old-a topline NAPA upsized Deka AGM.

Have not had any starter problems since the early 70's. Searched the net but no viable results. I was thinking maybe a dead spot on the commutator. Any ideas?

 

[ragtoplvr]

Some cars have problems with the crankshaft position sensor causing kickback.. There were some older GM cars that were so bad they could cause the starter to break, even cracking the block on rare occasion. I would ahve the car checked for codes, and go from there.

Rod

 

[14Accent]

What kind of car?

 

[Trav]

It sounds like there may be an ignition switch problem among other possibilities eg solenoid, relay, etc.

 

[CharBaby]

Double check the connections on the battery.

 

[Trav]

You are 100% correct! I often overlook this because for me its second nature to check the battery and its connections at all points before even thinking about doing anything else. I wrongly assume the poster has done this before even posting the question.

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted By: Trav
You are 100% correct! I often overlook this because for me its second nature to check the battery and its connections at all points before even thinking about doing anything else. I wrongly assume the poster has done this before even posting the question.


So true. I am almost obsessive about all connections and grounds, incl. the battery. Clean, tight and light coating of grease. I even torque then to 4 ft/lbs per the FSM. First thing I checked.

Char Baby- to your point. How can poor battery connections let the starter crank a high compression engine very quickly, pause, and then resume the quick cranking? Do connections start out good, go bad and then get better?

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: willbur
Originally Posted By: Trav
You are 100% correct! I often overlook this because for me its second nature to check the battery and its connections at all points before even thinking about doing anything else. I wrongly assume the poster has done this before even posting the question.


So true. I am almost obsessive about all connections and grounds, incl. the battery. Clean, tight and light coating of grease. I even torque then to 4 ft/lbs per the FSM. First thing I checked.

Char Baby- to your point. How can poor battery connections let the starter crank a high compression engine very quickly, pause, and then resume the quick cranking? Do connections start out good, go bad and then get better?




IDK!
Heat/cool, expansion/contraction, touching enough/not enough??? IDK!

It's just something to rule out and easy enough to check and it happens all the time.

Good luck,

CB

 

[Trav]

In my experience intermittent starter issues like yours commonly has something to do with the ignition switch, solenoid or a relay.
Of course it is not the only possible cause but its a good direction to look in after the obvious has been ruled out.

Edit: On high milers add brushes and oil soaking to that.

 

[willbur]

Thanks All for the great ideas.

It turned out to be the safety switch on the clutch pedal. No codes, solenoids, relays, connections. KISS principle wins!

 

[andyd]

Yah, I have that fixed on the Rat. With an inch of wire.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: willbur
Thanks All for the great ideas.

It turned out to be the safety switch on the clutch pedal. No codes, solenoids, relays, connections. KISS principle wins!


Yep but it would have been nice if you had mentioned it was a stick. That's one of the first thing to check.

 

[CharBaby]

Glad you found the culprit.

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: willbur
Thanks All for the great ideas.

It turned out to be the safety switch on the clutch pedal. No codes, solenoids, relays, connections. KISS principle wins!


Yep but it would have been nice if you had mentioned it was a stick. That's one of the first thing to check.


Thankyou Trav.

 

[Trav]

No thanks needed especially when I almost sent you on a wild goose chase. I mean sticks are are getting so rare today it didn't come to mind, my fault.

 

[CharBaby]

I know, right?
Me either!

 

[willbur]

Originally Posted By: Trav
No thanks needed especially when I almost sent you on a wild goose chase. I mean sticks are are getting so rare today it didn't come to mind, my fault.


Trav and Char Baby-
Actually I did not mention it because all my experience on stick cars has been wo the safety switch and did not think this car might have one. I always release the clutch to reduce load on the starter and it never occurred ppl do not do this and might start in gear and put the front end thru the garage wall

 

[Trav]

Most people today (not Bitog and car guys) cant even fathom what that stick is and how to get it to go. Anyway, the first time I ran into one of these switches was on a 71 Vega that was pretty new at the time.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: willbur
Originally Posted By: Trav
No thanks needed especially when I almost sent you on a wild goose chase. I mean sticks are are getting so rare today it didn't come to mind, my fault.


Trav and Char Baby-
Actually I did not mention it because all my experience on stick cars has been wo the safety switch and did not think this car might have one. I always release the clutch to reduce load on the starter and it never occurred ppl do not do this and might start in gear and put the front end thru the garage wall


Not a problem!