Starter Issues

[Andy348]

I've just gotten my car running in the past day or so, and I've had a small starting issue. I have a new battery and a rebuilt starter in the car. It cranked and started up most of yesterday, yet last night when I went to start it nothing happened. With the key in the run position, the lights turned on and the radio was working, but the solenoid didn't click and of course the starter didn't turn over. I tried it twice more, and on the third time it started fine.

Now this morning I go out there to try and start it and I have the same issue - power when the key is in the run position, but no starter. I recently bought a new main relay because I was having troubles with it before, so I will try and move that around and see if it makes a difference.

Any suggestions?

[jlevie]

Hook a test light between the starter solenoid control lead and ground as see if the light comes on when the key is turned to start. If it does the problem is in the starter's power or ground circuits or the starter itself. If the light doesn't come on the problem is between the ignition switch and the starter.

[Andy348]

Well, my brand new battery apparently died overnight. I jumpstarted it and it worked fine, but the battery died while driving around later. I'm assuming the alternator is shot, as I'm using an M20B27 one. I'll buy a rebuilt one this week and see if that solves the problem.