05 opti 135 starter barely turns

[retro115]

Anybody have some info on how to test the solonoid and starter. When I try to crank the engine over the starter will barely turn and all I hear is a series of clicks. I have cleaned and checked all battery terminals and both batteries are fully charged. Thanks for your help.

 

[Karl_Childers]

Re: 05 opti 135 starter barely turns

A series of clicks does NOT indicate a good solenoid. Getcha a good volt meter and start with the hot lug on the starter and go backwards from there and see where you loose voltage. A bright, pretty, and clean looking battery cable can still be bad! If everything checks out good, you have a bad starter. Do a bench test of the starter and see if she spins. It is my guess your starter is toast.

Your question was about testing the solenoid. Activate the solenoid by applying 12 volts to the small hot lug on the bottom. Using the voltmeter, see if you have 12 volts across both of the top big lugs. Let us know what you find

 

[retro115]

Re: 05 opti 135 starter barely turns

I checked the voltage at the starter and it is getting 12.4 volts. When I crank the engine the voltage drops down to 5 volts. What is the next step I should take.

 

[Karl_Childers]

Re: 05 opti 135 starter barely turns

Need more info here. Exactly where are you putting the meter probes, and when. If you " crank the engine" and you have battery voltage at the starter, but no spin or erratic spin; Bad starter. Pull the wire going from the solenoid to the starter OFF THE STARTER, thus isolating the starter. Now "Crank the engine". If you have battery voltage at the end of the wire that used to be attached to the starter, BAD STARTER. Confirm bad starter with a bench test (jumper cables from a battery to the hot lug of the starter and neg side of the same battery to chassis ground of the starter)

If you have no voltage at the end of the wire that used to be attached to the Starter, start looking at the solenoid. There are 2 big lugs and 1-2 small lugs. By 'lugs" I mean the screws the wires attach to. One big wire goes from one big lug to the starter. The other big lug goes straight to the battery and should always have battery voltage. When you "crank the engine" you should have battery voltage on both big lugs, if not, bad solenoid. Check this with a a volt meter. Positive lead to "big lug" neg lead to chassis ground. The 2 smaller lugs are your "activation" part of the solenoid. When you turn the key, 12 volts is applied to the positive side of the "small lug" and activates the solenoid.

Bench test the solenoid by REMOVING IT FIRST, then take it to a bench and apply 12 volts positive to the small positive lug and batt ground to the neg lug or chassis ground. Positive to positive and neg to negative or chassis ground of the solenoid, however your solenoid is configured. Once you do this, you should hear a click. Take your volt meter and switch to OHMS. Measure the Ohms across the 2 "big lugs" There should be very little resistance, or your OHM meter should sound a beep to let you know there is continuity. I believe anything more than .2 OHMs is bad. If so, or if no beep, BAD SOLENOID.

Battery cables should be tested also. Same way. Remove, or isolate them and check the resistance. A bad battery cable will drive you crazy to troubleshoot.

All that being said, I still think you have a bad starter. I hope that helps, remember to use good judgement and SAFETY FIRST. Let me know what you find

Regards,
Rob