starter check?

j.d.duggan said

What I have is a test light...…..needed to see some of the simple test I could do on my own, like the one that canyncarvr layed out.I'll test the starter like post 9 called for,this should show if starter is good or not.At least a good starting point.thanks again.

Click to expand...

Not to confuse the issue for you, but post#9 had mostly to do with ignition wiring, not starter wiring.

If you have a no-crank problem, you aren't to a place you have to worry about start/run wiring ignition-wise.

As noted, those comments were 'asides', something that may be useful to you in the future when dealing with the starter relay.

From what you have said so far: Relay clicks when key turned to 'start' but no starter, starter does engage when relay is manually activated, the relay is a reasonable choice.

One assumption: The click you hear is a single, hard 'click'..not a flutter on/off...and when when the key is released, you hear the relay click 'off'.

You could measure a solid 12.6V+ with a meter on the battery and the battery still be bad when the starter tries to run. That is less likely if a screwdriver on the starter relay runs the starter fine. Manually forcing the relay is not quite the same current issue as using the key as the key energizes other 'stuff'.

It is also possible that your mini is wired differently from the original starter. I have not dealt with a mini starter, so can't tell you how they are wired. The OEM Mopar starter switches the hi-current INside the starter IIRC. Most other starters have TWO leads, one for the solenoid, one for the starter motor. The 'manual' method you used to engage the starter bypassed the starter solenoid if you have a separate solenoid wire.

THAT says the solenoid on the starter is bad.

In that case, your manual 'test' did not engage the starter, but just spun it without engaging it to the flywheel.

I bring that up only to cover the possibility that your use of 'engage' means something different to you than it does to me. We could be talking about the 'same' thing word-wise and actually be each thinking something completely different.