The Pantless ultimatum thread

[LJ851]

There are two 8mm threaded studs on the wires end of the starter. They have nuts that are 12,13,or14mm on them. With a good battery in the car, bridge those two studs with large metal like a screwdriver to verify main starter function.

There will be sparks.

[Pantless Spency]

There are two 8mm threaded studs on the wires end of the starter. They have nuts that are 12,13,or14mm on them. With a good battery in the car, bridge those two studs with large metal like a screwdriver to verify main starter function.

There will be sparks.

lulz should i bridge it with something insulated so i don't kill myself?

[BlackbirdM3]

There are two 8mm threaded studs on the wires end of the starter. They have nuts that are 12,13,or14mm on them. With a good battery in the car, bridge those two studs with large metal like a screwdriver to verify main starter function.

There will be sparks.

Yeah, make sure you use a screwdriver and perhaps a leather glove. If you just use a straight piece of metal you will get quite the charge out of life. The rest of us will think is funny as hell, you on the other hand will not. Oh yeah, don't arc the screwdriver to the fender or anything else. If you do, its going to weld its self on (think arc welding.)

Have fun with that.

Will

[Pantless Spency]

Yeah, make sure you use a screwdriver and perhaps a leather glove. If you just use a straight piece of metal you will get quite the charge out of life. The rest of us will think is funny as hell, you on the other hand will not. Oh yeah, don't arc the screwdriver to the fender or anything else. If you do, its going to weld its self on (think arc welding.)

Have fun with that.

Will

hahahaha
cant i just bridge it with jumper cables?
positive from each end on each nut?

[Pantless Spency]

and if i end up doing this, will it give the starter a twirl? because my gearbox is meshed (poor word choice?) into 1st from siting in 1st for so long.
even if i put it in neutral it still moves the drive train, and doesn't move freely like neutral would normally.

[BlackbirdM3]

and if i end up doing this, will it give the starter a twirl? because my gearbox is meshed (poor word choice?) into 1st from siting in 1st for so long.
even if i put it in neutral it still moves the drive train, and doesn't move freely like neutral would normally.

Huh? I can see your clutch being stuck, but you should be able to move the shifter and get it into neutral. A transmission shouldn't get stuck from sitting. My Alfa sat for 30 years and wasn't stuck. The clutch was, the transmission however wasn't . The Datsun sat for 7 years on a hill no less in gear, it was fine as well (totally worn out mind you, but it wasn't stuck.) Your transmission should not be stuck. What might have happened is a detent ball has gotten stuck or perhaps a spring broke. Try putting in in neutral, and pushing it back and forth. It might pop out of gear. I had this happen once with the Datsun, it was stuck in 5th and wouldn't release. I pushed it back and forth for 15 minutes and suddenly it popped out. I got in the car and continued onto where I was going. It might be as simple as that.

I would get the transmission out of gear before you go messing with the starter.

Will

[LJ851]

lulz should i bridge it with something insulated so i don't kill myself?

Yeah, make sure you use a screwdriver and perhaps a leather glove. If you just use a straight piece of metal you will get quite the charge out of life. The rest of us will think is funny as hell, you on the other hand will not. Oh yeah, don't arc the screwdriver to the fender or anything else. If you do, its going to weld its self on (think arc welding.)

Have fun with that.

Will

There is distinct lack of electrical understanding in this thread. Nobody is getting fucking shocked doing what i said !

hahahaha
cant i just bridge it with jumper cables?
positive from each end on each nut?

Yes, this would accomplish the same thing, an electrical connection between the two studs.

[frankenbeemer]

If you prefer, you could connect positive to one and negative to the other, then press the remaining ends together. This could move the sparks away from the car if you like. I'd still wear gloves, and I always wear safety glasses.

[BlackbirdM3]

There is distinct lack of electrical understanding in this thread. Nobody is getting fucking shocked doing what i said !










Yes, this would accomplish the same thing, an electrical connection between the two studs.

If you arc the starter with just a piece of metal, you will either get lit up like a christmas tree or, you have a dead battery. If you use a screw driver with a plastic handle, no, you won't get shocked. I've arced a starter before. The main positive battery cable does connect to the starter there for you have 12 volts and x amount of amps there.

Will

[BlackbirdM3]

Ok,there is indeed something going on with the car having to do with the starter. The relays click when the key is turned, I think I heard the injectors click, the starter didn't do a thing, no click, no nothing. I tapped on it, nothing.
My guess is that its either a wire has come off/broken at the terminal, or the starter is indeed bad.

He's also got a weird issue with the SI lights staying on after the car is turned off and the key removed. What is up with that? I know its not right, but I've personally never seen the issue before. (I'll be honest, I haven't worked on many E30s so I'm in the dark here.) Also, is the fuel pump supposed to run if the motor is not turning? I know on my M3 it doesn't till the computer senses the engine turning.

I think the car will run if the starter will turn, but the starter is the biggest issue at the moment.

Will

[Pantless Spency]

what will said.


thanks for coming over and lending me an automotively inclined mind and hands. hopefully i can figure this out.

[LEANE30]

For the record i voted ban, and reading this last page confirmed my position.

[SubDad]

Sparks are bad for your eyes.

I haven't been on this forum long enough to vote to ban anybody so this thread has been mildly amusing;

But for heavens sake if you're proposing to spark things for Pete's sake wear something over your eyes! Those sparks are little balls of molten metal!
(Screw driver across the contacts...:shock:..No! Among other things you'll destroy the threads where the spark happens.)

And get it out of gear first... for Heaven's sake....Golly.

SubDad: 35 years in the hangar, seen some wildly stupid stuff and people get hurt.

[Pantless Spency]

thanks for the advice ahha.
im also sketched out about arching the starter.

as of lately:
its now out of gear, no drive train movement when pushed in neutral.
battery fully charged, it was nearly completely charged only took a few mins to get a full charge.
figured out the SI board has a dead battery? not sure if that could be part of the connection to no start, anyone want to chime in on that?

[CabbE30]

I would clean the contacts at the starter w some sandpaper. Unbolt, sand, clean reconnect. I've had no crank issues just because of a bad connection.