- battery failure;
- defective connections between the switch, solenoid, battery and starter;
- solenoid malfunction;
- the starter has mechanical or electrical damage.
To check the battery, turn on the headlights. If they start to go out after a few seconds, this indicates that the battery is low and needs to be charged or replaced. If the headlights are bright, turn the ignition on and check them. If they dim, then the fault lies in the starter. If the headlights keep burning bright (and there is no click in the starter solenoid), this means that there is a defect in either the circuit or the solenoid. If the starter turns slowly when turned on, and the battery is in good condition, either the starter is faulty, or there is a short in the circuit somewhere.
If there is a suspicion of a malfunction in the circuit, disconnect the wires from the battery (including grounding on "mass" to the body), starter/solenoid wires, and engine/transmission ground straps. Carefully remove any dirt from the connections, reconnect the wires and contacts, then use a voltmeter to check for voltage at the positive terminal of the battery connected to the solenoid. Make sure the ground is secure. Apply some Vaseline to the battery terminals to prevent corrosion.
If the battery and all connections are in good condition, check the circuit by disconnecting the wire from the solenoid. Plug in a voltmeter (or control lamp) between the end of the wire and earth ground (e.g. to the negative battery terminal) and check if the wire is energized after turning the key in the ignition switch to the position "start" (start). If it is energized, then the circuit is in order, if not, proceed as indicated below.
You can check the solenoid contacts by connecting a voltmeter (or control light) between the positive battery terminal on the solenoid side and ground to ground. When the key is turned in the ignition switch to position "start" ("start") an indication of the device or a lamp should be observed. If not, then the solenoid has failed and should be replaced.
If it turns out that the electrical circuit and solenoid are in order, the malfunction may be hiding in the electric motor. Start checking the starting motor by removing it (see next section) and brush checks. If the defect is not in the brushes, then the motor winding could have failed and it needs to be repaired.
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