Vh commodore wont start! need help!!

[LiLi]

hey everyone, i have a vh 202 commodore auto. yesterday it was working okay. i turned the key to fire it up, and it was delayed for like a second and then started. and today it didnt even start at all, no trying to turn over, nothing .. i have tried shorting out the starter motor, and i can hear it turning but not catching on to start the engine. battery is fully charged.

does anyone have any idea on what this could be ?? ..

[TY318]

have you tryed checking wires and fuses it mite be a ground somewhere

[PRAVX II S]

Check for power at the satrter solenoid (Not the thick wire) the signal wire. While the key is turned.
If there is power then the starter is gone. Make sure your thick battery cable to the starter is clean and tight and not worn.
If there is no power check the relay and the key barrel.
Is it auto could even be inhibitor switch play with the gears

[VR38]

Could be inhibitor switch, which enables the start in park and neutral only, try moving the stick a bit next time.
The switch is located at the bottom of the gear stick.

[LiLi]

okay cheers guys. any one else know why ?

to check if the starter has power at the soleniod you need to have one of those test lights or something?

[LiLi]

i have also replaced the neutral switch and still nothing so it most be a wire somewhere

[ari666]

you can make a test light from an ordinary 12V globe and a couple of bits of wire, but they are about 10 bucks so may as well buy one IMO.

so... the starter is spinning, but the solenoid isnt engaging? is that only when you shorted it it? does the key have any effect at all? i.e. can you hear it spinning if you turn the key?

[LiLi]

yeah it only spins when i short out the starter motor, but doesnt flick out so that it turns the fan and alternator and shit. and when i turn the key for the engine to turn over, i get no response, no noises what so ever.

[Darren_L]

sounds like the solenoid isn't engaging.

[LiLi]

how would we fix that man? cause when i turn the key nothing happens at all.

[delcowizzid]

is the little wire on the solinoid attached

[LiLi]

which little wire is that man?

[delcowizzid]

there is a small wire that goes on the solinoid spade terminal it makes it work if its not plugged on she wont go

[GetToDaChopa]

You don't have it in drive do you? :P just checking worth a shot

Once i freaked out that my car wasn't starting after washing it. Turned out i didn't put it in park lol

[LiLi]

nar i have tried it in all gears bro. mums bringing home a test light so we will soon find out weather its the test starter motor or not!

[ari666]

You don't have it in drive do you?

lol, first thing i though of too

there is a little purple wire that is in the habbit of coming loose on a plug near your fusebox. the plug has something like 6 wires in it, 2 red, 2 black a purple and something else i cant remember. if you can test that that wire is getting power while someone turns they key we can move on to step 2.

[delcowizzid]

and the stupid joiner under the dash by the centre console its got me twice now

[LiLi]

its okay people that other solenoid thing thats attached to the carby, has snapped off have no idea how. but it need to be connected to earth the motor out or something so that the engine will start.. am i right ?

[delcowizzid]

it wont effect the starter

[LiLi]

but if its not bolted down ot wont start right? cause i tried to just hold it there cause some barsted tried to weld it on thats why it snaped off and as i was holding it there, got someone to fire her up and instead of turning over it zapped me instead haha

[PRAVX II S]

Mate this is very simple. Ge the test light and probe the skinny wire (Signal wire) at the solenoid and get someone to crank the engine.
If it light up then the starter needs changing. Make sure all the cables are connected to the starter. (Thick Battery cable)
It it does not the problem lies further back in the circuit.