Car starting problems

[RCDad]

Hey, hopefully one of your car experts can help.

I have a 91 Ford Tempo, when you turn the key it makes all the sounds like the battery is dead. I got the battery charged but it did not help. What else could it be?

[bigjs]

could be the starter.

[Craig]

Check your cables and where they attach to the engine, body, starter, etc.

Do you have a voltmeter?

A better description of "like a dead battery" would help.

Do the lights dim? Starter solenoid buzzing?, just a slow crank?

Craig
http://www.rclapcounter.com

[RCDad]

All the lights etc. are functioning. When you turn the key all you get is a click. I just had the battery charged so it's something other than that.

I don't have a voltmeter.

[Craig]

Without a meter the best I can tell you is have someone crank the key and wiggle all the cable ends, looking for sparks, feeling for heat. Make sure to follow the ground cable to the engine block.

If you find nothing there, gently tap on the starter body with a hammer while cranking.

Craig
http://www.rclapcounter.com

[snakebite46]

Sounds like a starter solenoid to me. Going way back here for a sec......I believe on the Tempo's. the starter solenoid is located ont he driver fender. You can take a jumper wire and jump the soleniod to engage the starter.

[Craig]

A bad solenoid is certainly possible, but I've only replaced one in 16 years, so I'm playing the odds here.

If you jump the solenoid, use a jumper cable (on the large threaded posts). If the solenoid is the problem, the full current to the starter will flow through it and light up a "regular" wire.
Make sure it is in park before you do this. If it is in gear, it will start and drive away from or over you.
Ask me how I know

If you get nowhere with this a 10-15 dollar meter from radioshack will go a long way.

Craig

[grim digger]

it does sound like solenoid,you can always do the alley garage way a screw driver to jump over always worked for me,unless you can really know how use a voltometer and have many other uses for it i would try to borrow one,the tapping of the starter is worth try .all the delivery cars we have at the parts store at least once a month one of those p.o.s. always acts up
good luck

[Notochord]

and if you get a voltmeter to figure out your problem with your starter then you can use it on your pede to when u need it. and im gonna have to agree with everyone else and say its your solenoid and if you didnt notice i have no idea what a solenoid is

[SixVi6-Camaro]

I'm guessing the solenoid will look the same on that as all the older fords so look for something on the car that looks like This pic you should be able to find it by following the red wire from the battery. Then check to see all the wires are attached to it snugly and the small wire (usually red and cyan if I remember correctly but I could be wrong) is clean and firmly attached. then try starting it. I'm thinking its unlikey the solenoid is bad since I've only seen one bad one and that was actually stuck on. anyways if the wires are all snug and in good shape I'm putting my money on a bad neutral saftey switch or bad wire that runs from the ignition tumbler to the solenoid.

[Craig]

He said it is clicking, so the start signal is getting to the solenoid.

[thenewguy821]

He said it is clicking, so the start signal is getting to the solenoid.

The solenoid is getting the "signal", but may not be letting enough power through to start the car. Sounds to me like a burnt out solenoid as well.

[RCDad]

Solenoid is what I thought also. It's going in the garage later this morning. I really need a multimeter, it sure would have come in handy.

[RCDad]

Ok, this is weird, the car started this morning but an "AMP" light came on in the dash so the alternator must be bad. I don't know why it wouldn't start last night though?

[RCDad]

Well, at first they thought it needed a new battery but when they put a new battery in it diden't help so they just tightened everything up and replaced the connectors on the cables and its working fine. They said it will probably need a starter sometime in the future.

[DAVEC-NITRO-RS4]

Glad you got it running. I was about to suggest a new glow plug.....

[DAVEC-NITRO-RS4]

_deleted_

[RCDad]

Imagine how much gas would cost if cars used glow plugs

[DAVEC-NITRO-RS4]

Diesels use glow plugs, don't they?

Imagine how much it would cost to operate if you had a 3200 pound car with a 190hp nitro engine. But would it sound cool!!

Aren't top fuel dragsters nitro fueled?

[RCDad]

I used to have a go cart that used nitro fuel.