engine and drivetrain 76 02 not starting

[Guest Anonymous]

I've owned my 76 2002 for two years and I've luckily avoided any major mechanical problems. But two weekends ago, we went to the beach. After a few hours parked there I came back and the car doesn't start. The engine does turn over, but very slowly. Some buddies of mine happen to be there. We managed to push start the car and I got it home.

So this weekend I figured that I'd do the maintenance I was putting off for a while. I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, points, and condenser. And I replaced the spark plugs, wires, and installed a new bosch blue coil for good measure.

I go to start the car, same thing! It doesn't start, but it turns over very slowly. Since (I think) I can rule out fuel problems (as it ran after a push start), do you think it's a bad starter motor? I've also recently cleaned up the ground connection from the engine to the body with a wire brush, so I doubt it's that.

Any ideas?

P.S. This is my first time posting here, but I've used this site extensively as a source of advice. It was extremely helpful when I replaced my brakes last year!

[ndog]

how is the battery

[Guest Anonymous]

A bought a new battery last year. I had some charging issues earlier this year so I got one of those battery chargers from sears to keep it fully charged.

[Zorac]

take the alternator in and get it tested, most stores will do it for free.

check the voltage when the car is running as well, if your seeing anything more than 14.5v, the regulator would be suspect.

[ndog]

before you yank the alt,remember a turd charger will cook a great battery.I would carbon pile the battery it is easy to yankout of car so take IT to the store if you dont have a carbon pile/load tester. a volt meter will not perform this without a dc amp clamp.

[BillWilliams]

Also, remember a charger is not a good item to keep a battery charged. A battery tender is the tool for that job.

[ndog]

Also, remember a charger is not a good item to keep a battery charged. A battery tender is the tool for that job.

xthat by 1 million,boat owners chime in LOL

[Guest Anonymous]

The charger is supposedly automatic. Charges and then becomes a battery tender when the battery is fully charged. But you never know, I guess.

[ndog]

pat.... those black/red ones from sears dont have great trickle charge programs.I hope that is your only problem gluck. ure first post I hope someone helps u

[Mike Self]

that's pressed into a plastic sleeve. Over the years the sleeve disintegrates and allows the bushing to spin with the armature when the starter is running, thus slowing the starter motor noticeably.

AFTER you have checked your charging system, wiring, battery etc and have narrowed it down to the starter motor, before springing for a new/rebuilt unit, pull the rear cover off and see if the rear armature bushing is loose and spins with the armature when the starter is energized.

While the sleeve isn't available, if you have an electric drill, a file, hacksaw and some patience, you can make a new rear bushing from hardware store parts. I did a Roundel column on this years ago and will be glad to send you a copy if you find this to be your problem.

cheers

mike

[c.d.iesel]

bad weak corroded wiring / connections / ground connections

bad starter motor

bad battery

and seems your charging system is inop because

you choose to run total loss and just charge the battery

when home. That needs fixing also .

[BillWilliams]

After you check all your connections Mother Goose (Mike) and Uncle CD suggest and if you do not choose to rebuild your stater, if that is your problem, ths SITE SEARCH above will lead you to many posts about using a newer type starter for your replacement.

I got tired of chasing this problem and threw a new alternator, battery and voltage regulator at the car and all was well.

[patircks02]

Thanks for everyone's input. I checked the ground and other connections with a voltmeter today, and everything seemed to be connected properly. The battery voltage is 12.5v, which seems a bit low. Then again, it's probably not fully charged either.

[Collinster742002]

I've had year old battery's take a crap on me before- the Duralasts in my Volvo, BMW and Jeep Liberty. The Volvo and the 2002 use the same battery. THE batteries all strangely failed within days of each other.

[patircks02]

Yup, it was the starter! I installed a sr441x (thanks to the advice on this forum) e30 m3 starter motor, and it works perfectly now.