CAr has begun to crank a little slow once it's warm (in the moring always turns over fast). Drove it the other day a few minutes, went in a store and came out and it would turn over for about 1/4 second then go "click clikc click". After several attempts to turn it over it wouldn't turn at all any more and just click. So i tried jumping the car, same thing. Tried jumping it with my battery out entirely...same results. Cleaned all my grounds and terminals even though they are all clean (i just put the motor back in 2 months ago and it's been starting fine since). So, i figure it's the starter, i got a new one same thing. Thought maybe i got a bad replacement, so i got another new one, this time also got the new one tested (new unit tested fine) but it does the same thing. So i bought a multimeter. I'm reading 12.01 volts on the main starter lead. At the purple wire on the starter though i am getting no reading at all when the key is on...if i crank it and engage the starter than i'm getting a reading of about .7 volts. It should be 10 volts, right? Where does this wire go exactly...i want to try tracing it back...it looks like it goes behind the firewall somewhere?

 

You're thinking too hard and spending WAAAY too much money.

Your battery is dead! Possibly the result of a bad alternator keeping the battery from charging. Have your alternator tested, and get a new battery.

 

I took the battery out of the car completely, and jumped it from another car with jumper cables hooked directly to my battery terminals (no batter in car at all)...same results. I also just tested battery voltage - 12.3 volts.

 

I think the purple wire goes to a relay for the theift whatever. If you look behind your glove compartment box you see it in there I believe. And it does go through the firewall. The wires coming in from the firewall are taped together you have to cut into that to see the purple wire I think it's been awhile. Battery volts don't start your car the cold cranking amps do. Have it check at autozone or oreily's.
-b

 

ok, well i tried taking the starter off the car so it wasn't under load...it still clicks without it being bolted up. So i tried shorting the main start lead witht he solenoid and then the start properly cranks and engages. So it's not my battery beucase it cranks fine when i short that out...does that purple wire go to the ignition switch then? And as i mentioned before, i allready test it by hoking up to another battery and by trying to jump the car

 

Checking in as I'm having a similar issue and this may be of some use.

 

sounds like you've got a short in the starter solenoid wire(it should be on the driver side of the solenoid when bolted onto the engine, i forget which color)

 

Right, i was trying to trace it. It's a purple wire...i found it wher eit comes throught he firewall...but once it goes throught he firewall near the glove compartment where does it end up? The only purple wire i can find of that size goes to the rear window defroster button But that's pretty much the conclusion i came to is that wire has a short or something in it.

 

anybody? Am i right about getting 10 volts to the solenoid?

 

A little extra info:

I got the heft deterrent relay out, if i try starting the car i noticed the relay is also making a loud clicking noise, on top of that it actually is vibrating in sequence witht he clicking (i notice if i hold it in my hand it bounces around). Fromt he yellow wire at the relay i get 7-9 volts...when i put the car in start and am measuring it the multimeter reading will jump around (this is with the relay unplugged measure at the harness). As mentioned erlier i get NOTHING fro teh purple wire at the starter solenoid. So i thought the solenoid was bad. I tried jumping the yellow and purple wire but that doesn't seem to resolve anything...i didn't do anything with the black and black/yellow wires though...i assume those are grounds???