Thread: Ignition Woes - Low Starter Signal Voltage

Ok, got to finish installing my new engine harness, starting to really think the starter is at fault, here is a quick video of what is going on, each click is me turning the key to the start position.

I replaced my ignition switch when I had this issue a long time ago, but it didn't fix the problem. I got a new chassis, and swapped my engine over to it. I used the starter that came off the engine in my new chassis. It wouldn't start at all. The power wire from the solenoid to the starter housing was shorting on that one, so I put my old one back on. Same intermittent clicking, so I put a spare starter that I had on, and problem solved. It was a wore out, loose solenoid on my old starter.

That's a bad starter for sure.

Funny how these You Tube videos help...

New starter is in and no issues so far, thanks guys!

This thread finally made it all click together i think. Here's my problem, on friday I was at the store and when I went to leave, the car cranked slow but fired up. I thought it was odd as I have recently replaced my battery. So on the way home the CEL comes on. I get home and pull the codes, ign coil, frnt o2, and cam position sensor. So I pop the hood and I see oil on the ground. I look below and there is a good amount of oil on the ground. So i start searching for the problem and while I can see oil everywhere I can't find where it's coming from. I have my neighbor come crank the car while I'm looking and I find the oil line between the block an dist block is spewing oil. Weird that this happened to a braided line that's not that old.

Now while doing this we noticed the car was cranking very slow, almost like the battery was dead. So i was looking at my volt gauge and every time we cranked it the power would go from 12-11-10-9 and die. Then once you let off the key and back to ign, battery levels would go back to 12-13. Well while doing this one of us notices a puff of smoke in the engine bay. Low and behold the ign ground wire off the disi has burnt away it's coating and is very hot. Tried cranking again and we could fel it getting hot. So I pulled the ground wire out of the harness and reground the disi. This made no difference.

How can the two be related, well I just noticed that the oil line had a black mark in it, and while looking at the new line I noticed it could very easily touch the starter. Could I have grounded out the starter while cranking it and ruining it. Starter bad+ ign ground taking to much and burning up?

I've tested all ign coil wires and grounds, everything appears to be good.

Any thoughts anyone? I'm in need of some guidance.

Thanks!

My 200 was doing the exact same thing lol kept clicking randomly then it would start randomly... Finally it went out after about 2 years of doing it after I had just picked up a pizza... Lol glad you fixed it!

Yes, this is a likely possibility. I've done it before actually. =(

Starter has been replaced, issue still there. When I crank voltage drops to 9 and the ignition ground gets super hot. Let off and volts go back to 13ish. Still getting camshaft position sensor and ign coil codes. Help please.

@trance34 it's time to make a thread of your own so we can help you diagnose and solve this issue. I'll see you over in the new thread.