Starter wiring issues

[ragtop2000]

I have been having on going starting problems. I discovered that the positive terminal where the main battery lead connects was broken and it eventually fell off causing a short in the system and melting the ground lead to the battery. I have replaced and repaired all the connections to the starter and the alternator. I have also cleaned up and replaced the main ground wire to the engine. When I went to start it up I get a loud click, but the engine/starter doesn't turn. Also the Tach jumps to 2000 RPM without the engine turning. If I turn on the headlights the tach jumps to 4000 RPM. If I try starting with the headlights on everything goes out. I don't have any shorts in the main battery lead anymore and I am pretty sure I rewired the starter and alternator correctly. I am going to check my headlight relay next for problems. If any one has wisdom in the meantime I would appreciate it!

[azruss]

a loud click means you are getting good voltage to the starter. May be a bad starter and/or solenoid

[ragtop2000]

I just replaced the starter and tested it before I installed it. It could have been done in by the shorting issue, however.

[kmead]

I would look at your grounding wires to the engine. A bad ground there and in other places can cause some of the thing you are describing.

I would add a heavy gauge wire from one of the bumper mount bolts to the engine mount (the engine side of the mount). There is/was a ground wire off of the bell housing to the body but it may have burned out or been removed over time.

[ragtop2000]

Thanks for the recommendation to replace the ground wire. It started right up. The old ground bolt to the engine was stripped and loose, so I ran a new one with #4ga wire from the bumper to the engine mount like you mentioned. It shows how important the grounding wires are on these cars. Now I just need a day with out rain to cruise!

[baltobernie]

Good diagnosis, Karl. Glad to hear you're running now, Ragtop.

I wasn't as careful when installing a cruise control on my Spider, and using either turn signal position sometimes caused the cruise to immediately drop out. Pretty thrilling on the Interstate. Weeks of head-scratching and phone calls to Audiovox didn't help. Found the dodgy connection accidently.