[foffracing]

Hey everyone. I am new to the site and just got my first 1990 Escort GT. It doesn't not turn over. The battery has a charge, i purchased the solenoid that is right behind the battery. When I turn the key a buzzing sound comes from the solenoid, but the staerter doen't engage. I removed the starter today and will test it tomorrow. Is this a common problem with the starter or is there something else? Please help, any info would be great. Thanks!!! AWESOME site.

 

[WJC]

YOu're on the right path, take the starter up to your parts store and have them test it for high-draw. Then you can start looking at wiring. While it's off, unbolt the negative cable at the engine block, clean it, and re-bolt it. This will ensure a good main ground.

 

[UnexplodedCow]

Have you load-tested the battery? It may have a charge by itself, but would lose it under load. The clicking/buzzing solenoid sound is the key to that. My guess is the battery should be charged for a day or so, or even given a jump from another car, and then see how everything works. It could also be dirty or loose connections, so make sure it's all clean. For the record, the starters usually don't have problems. They're a bit overbuilt for their purpose.

 

[89Pony]

...For the record, the starters usually don't have problems. They're a bit overbuilt for their purpose.

Noall, don't starters usually have to be replaced about every 5 years? I've always gotten anywhere from 3 to 5 years from starters in all my cars. I think the brushes wear down. I suppose you could take it apart and replace the brushes, instead of buying a new or rebuilt starter.

Oh, once I had hoped to test my starter myself, with the starter out of the car, by just touching the starter terminals w/jumper cables, but apparently because of the amount of current needed, you need to actually bolt cables to the terminals, not touch with alligator-end jumper cables, right? Because when I tried, the starter didn't spin, all that happened was a bunch of sparks flew and the jumper cable momentarily welded itself to the starter terminal and I decided to give up.

Will

 

[WJC]

...For the record, the starters usually don't have problems. They're a bit overbuilt for their purpose.

Noall, don't starters usually have to be replaced about every 5 years?

Only if you're buying cheap rebuilts. Good one should last a lot longer.

 

[UnexplodedCow]

I've been going on the original starter with my car. My Tempo starter lasted all its life until the bearings wore out and the thing started to seize (which is why I swapped back in the original starter for my car). Starters wear out much faster the longer they have to crank an engine. My engine starts with about 1 or 2 seconds of cranking. Still, I've never personally replaced a starter on an Escort. If they keep having starting issues, try pop-starting.

If the brushes are wearing out, you're getting cheap ones, that are using cheap brushes (they won't spin as well, either). I have an original '85 Escort starter here that was installed on a Tempo to replace its original one since the previous owner couldn't get it to run properly (the engine had crumbled pistons and no compression), so he kept cranking and burned out the original.

However, our starters are completely rebuildable. Bushings, stators, rotors, starter gears, brushes, are all replaceable. The other option is to switch to a Tempo style starter. It's smaller, not as rebuildable, and has the starter relay built on. You could scour junk yards for a bunch of 'em. They come on '88 and later year Tempos. Otherwise they have the same starter as an Escort. I think that would be cheaper than spending money on rebuilt starters from somewhere.

 

[foffracing]

I am going to go the parts store on Firday...

89Pony...I tried the jumper cable wires to the starter and nothing. No spinning. SO WJC I am going to remove and clean all of them wire connections. I will update this weekend. Thanks for the awesome responses.