dragon-ryder

The engine still cranks (at about 1/2 the normal speed) but it never starts. I've tried 2 different batteries so that's not the problem. What could this be caused by?

4Driver4

Bad starter or poor ground - in that order.

S4gasm (LoTR)

i had the same problem, the battery alone could not provide the juice needed to start the car...i replaced the alt and no more ticking. Starters dont usually tick like that, when mine went bad it just stopped working! no noises...i would put my money on the alternator.

dragon-ryder

I've tried the normal car battery that was fully charged, i tried a very large 12V deep cycle truck battery that was fully charged, and i also hooked it up too a large battery charger/engine start unit that i have in the garage and set it too add an additional 200A.
<img src="http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/167756_lg.jpg">
All of these produced the same effect, no change in cranking speed or sound. Do you still think it could be the alternator? I got under the car and heard the clicking distinctively from the starter \

S4gasm (LoTR)

hmm..i still say alternator...but thats just me! take it to autozone and get it tested.its free.

YucatanAudi

The starter brushes could be burnt, leading to slower turning. The ground could be bad, not allowing enough current to both the starter and the coil. Also, there is a ground strap from the solenoid to the starter made of copper mesh. This frequently corrodes away and leaves you with a non-working starter. Could be about to give out.

Since you have tried several charged batteries, the problem is ~most likely~ not in the charging system (alternator &amp; voltage regulator) or battery. Look into the starter and ground more.

dragon-ryder

when i was under the car, i could see the starter with a black wire connected to what i believe would be the solenoid? it seemed intact but then again i wasn't looking intently at it.

YucatanAudi

Check the ground strap from the battery to the car - where you mount the battery. It should be about 12" long, bare woven copper. The attachment to the car should be clean and solid. The cable itself should be sturdy, not corroded through. The same for the wires attaching to the starter - both the positive and ground wires should be connected to a clean solid terminal.

Have you done any other engine work lately? Anything that may change the compression or timing of the engine? My money is still on the starter or a bad ground connection somewhere. But there are other, more unusual possibilities.

Have you tried to start it with a good battery, PLUS jumper cables from another car? If you can get it started that way, there are a couple possibilities: the battery is actually bad, and so is the other one you tried (go have them tested free at AutoZone) or the starter has so much resistance that it requires lots of juice to turn. Time for a new starter.

dragon-ryder

I finished up replacing my heatercore, the car was sitting in the driveway for 5 months(never started). Once the dash was all back together, i checked the fluids, stuck the key in, and it started right up after only 2 turns of the engine. I pulled it into the garage and jacked it up to locate a exhaust leak, I found that and while it was still in the air i cleaned the ISV. After reinstalling the ISV I lowered the car again and tried to start it, that's when the clicking started and the car refused to start (but it would crank). I'll test the resistance of the starter tomorrow, do you know what the normal value should be? The Bentley seems to have VERY little info on the starter. I'm also gonna go through all the wiring tomorrow. Hopefully i can reach the starter without removing the alternator \

YucatanAudi

Sounds like the battery was very low after five months, you started it with the last juice left and it didn't run long enough to get recharged. That's the scenario you described. If you can, remove the battery, take it to AutoZone and have them charge it and test it. How old is it?