Bench testing starter?? works???

[de_foz]

Hi just a quick one one from my ever growing problems. ~
~Due to starting problems i have removed the starter from my van and now want to test it. before forking out for a new one!
so using battery and jump leads i connected the negative to the housing but the only way i could get it to move is to connect the positive to the tab for spade connector on back of the selonoid but this only causes slow turning.
am i right in thinking you need to connect to the stud coming out the back of selonoid and use a third wire to this tab to act like ignition
soz still learning

[itchyfeet]

Most starters you need to ground the body to the battery Ov or negative terminal with a jump lead, connect a +12V jump lead to the main stud teminal on the solenoid and then connect another +12V wire to the trigger terminal which is often a small spade, this triggers the solenoid (which is a electrical switch) that then connects the main stud terminal to the motor.

Be careful if you short the jump leads you can burn yourself or send sparks into your eyes.

[de_foz]

cheers for that itchyfeet. ill give that a try tomorrow keep the process of elimination going

[de_foz]

right now i'm baffled, starter works fine engages and spins at high speed. trying to think it through is it possible that the wire from the ignitions is not providing enough power to engage it. what would be best way to test?? any ideas.

[California Dreamin]

This doesn't really mean a great deal unless you can properly load the starter.

Martin

[Fin]

You got a mate with a van that would be willing to swap over and try?

[itchyfeet]

stick it back in the van and connect it to the battery with the same jump leads to load it and eliminate the vans wiring.

[de_foz]

cheers for the replies. ill try sticking it in van tomorrow with the same wiring set up see if it works under load. thanks

[CovKid]

If it still seems sluggish, it might be worth clamping a spare battery jump lead from body of the starter to somewhere on the chassis. If it performs better, you know you need to add a fresh earthing connection. Also the small earth braid connection between solenoid and starter can corrode - check that. I've seen dodgy starters that wouldn't play ball and it was wholly down to that.

[de_foz]

thanks for the advice guys
had the best feeling listening to my engine fire back into life yesterday. appears wasn't earthing properly through the alternator added an extra earth strap and fired stright into life cheers covkid for that one.
now onto draining the coolant and swapping oil cooler.