Starter crap out

[66chargertoy]

Well, it's a beautiful day, so I decided to take the Charger to work tonight. Stopped at my local Parts Source to get some transmission oil, so when it was time to go-------click!!!!!. Nothing . Stater would not engage at all. Just a wonderful CLICK So I was going to be late for work, and the driver I was replacing cannot leave till I come in, no matter how late I am, just in case a call comes in. I was able to get it towed back home while my wife drove me to work. The stater is only one month old, bought new this year, DB Electric mini starter. Tried jumping the solenoid with the same results. Stater also acted up not long after I installed it: started the engine and the starter just kept turning. Had to jump out and disconnect the battery. Connected the battery soon after and it never did it again.
Anyways, not happy. Sorry about the rant.
Denis

[charger Downunder]

Sounds like not pulling back after started bad solenoid. Why is everything these days such poor quality doesn't anybody care at all.

[FLG]

Fyi for future reff usually a good smack with a wrench will get it working again 

[Tilar]

Sounds like a bad battery connection to me.

[66chargertoy]

Tried to bang it with a tire iron, but not much room to wail on it with the headers in the way. Battery connections are all clean and tight. Even tried to boost it.
Denis

[flyinlow]

When a starter or battery gives you a warning, listen.

The terminals on the mini starter are close to the block. Any chance they cross connected?

Ignition switch or starter relay can keep the engine cranking also, not just the starter selonoid sticking.

Just a couple of ideas, removing a starter with headers is a pain.

[firefighter3931]

Denis, did you remove the plastic cover on the terminal connections ?

I agree with flyin low....it could be an ignition swith or starter relay issue.


Ron

[TylerCharger69]

You mentioned headers.....do you have a heat shield installed to protect that starter from the excessive heat the headers give off?  That, too, may be a factor and fried the solenoid and internals to some degree

[66chargertoy]

Hey Ron. Hope you are settling into your new place fine. Wheres that garage from heaven you were talking about? Yes I removed the plastic cover before installing the starter. Haven't had much time to trouble shoot this problem since the car was towed back home, working at my second job in order to get some goodies for the charger.
Denis

[firefighter3931]

Hey Ron. Hope you are settling into your new place fine. Wheres that garage from heaven you were talking about?

Still unpacking & organizing....thanks again for your help buddy  The new shop is still in the planning stage but i do have a contractor lined up. 

Yes I removed the plastic cover before installing the starter. Haven't had much time to trouble shoot this problem since the car was towed back home, working at my second job in order to get some goodies for the charger.
Denis

I still have that spare starter that i gave you and you returned back to me....you want it back ? 

There should be a warrenty on the DB starter if it turns out to be defective. 



Ron

[66chargertoy]

Just a quick update, Tiler you hit it bang on  . Connection to the positive battery terminal was inferior. Cable that went in the top post terminal was not good. Couldn't see it at all till I tugged on it and it came out. Cleaned it up, bought a new one and Voila! Well not until I took the starter out and confirmed that it was not the problem (empty rad, remove headers, jack engine up and popped out the starter, blah blah blah  ). Will be getting a new positive cable very soon. Now the starter just spins that big block like crazy. Sorry D.B. Electrical for the unwarranted rant. Well live and learn. Thanks to all.
Denis

[charger2fast4u]

good to hear you found the problem i was hoping it wasn't the DB Electrical starter. to bad it's after you took it all apart to find out it was the battery cable. i know how much of a pain it is to take the headers and all off to replace the starter.i just put in a DB Elecrical mini starter acouple months ago. ive been happy so far with mine and was hoping it wasn't a defective starter for you. if you still got it all taken apart now might be a good time to change the spark plugs put some header wrap and a heat blanket around the starter and headers to be safe that's what i did. my old starter got heat soaked.

[oldrock]

starters are most definately a pain with headers. We had to go thru all that on my son's car a few months ago. So far (knock on wood) the replacement starter is working out. Good to know that info on the cables though, if ours craps out again, I will definately check the cables first. Oh and the wrench on the starter does work. We used that trick sucessfully twice on the old starter before it finally died and wouldn't start no matter what we did.

[flyinlow]

Glad you found the bad cable.

What caused the starter to keep cranking that one time? Bad cable would not do that.

[66chargertoy]

That one is a mystery to me flyinlow It never did it again, or I hope it never will
Denis

[firefighter3931]

Glad you got it figured out Denis. The car sounds great with the new exhaust....luv them Ultraflows 



Ron