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4th Gen Starter Problems

Discussion in 'Electrical' started by JoeJack88, Feb 7, 2007.

  1. JoeJack88

    JoeJack88 Well-Known Member Super Moderator Donated!

    Originally posted by White87GT from 4gcelica.net

    I went through the same dilemma for over a year, had 3 starters, new battery, new alternator, still would not start especially when it was hot. The starter would click but not turn over. The problem was the small wire going to the starter. As these cars age, there is a build up of resistance from all the lengths that small wire goes from clutch switches, relays, etc..etc..... The solution is to go get yourself a 12V relay and wire it up in the engine compartment. The relay acts as a power booster for that small wire going to the starter, your car will start like never before. My car starts so strong now that it is funny. The wiring diagram available at the12volt.com, goes like this Connect terminal #87 to 12 volt constant, #85 to ground, terminal #86 to the ignition side of the small wire, and terminal #30 to starter. - 88gts

    What you want to do is get some 12 or 16 gauge primary wire and a fuse holder with a 30 amp fuse. Following this diagram, first find a location by the battery to mount relay 1 screw. Get some solderless spade connectors. Connect fuse holder to battery (w/o fuse for now) extend the wire to the pin 87, ground pin 85 to the chassis with short wire, find the small wire going to the starter unclip the disconnect by the header, cut off this disconnect, solder on some longer wire to reach the relay connect the side going to your ignition switch to pin 86, then connect the starter side to pin 30, finally put in your 30 amp fuse, and start her up. Hope this works for you. Let me know.
    Sean - 88gts

    I think I used 12 gauge primary wire for all of it just to be safe, and some of those yellow solderless spade connectors (same kind used on speakers) to connect the wires to the relay, but I soldered the wires around the starter due to the heat. I think it took me about an hour. It is best to plan it all out get all the parts first. This is actually the only way to wire the relay it is only 4 wires. Good luck! - 88gts

    The relay you need is available at a car stereo shop or auto store shouldn't be over $5 US dollars. The relay should be SPDT. Single Pole Double Throw Relay.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Youds

    Youds Well-Known Member

    ^^ seriously cant praise this enough. i went through a day where my car wouldnt start for so many clicks then eventually just died. had to wait a while before it could cool down enough to go. was about to buy a starter when i remembered this post and bamn everytime i even try to goto start its on ;p

    Note: this is only for if the motor doesnt turn :D
     
  3. Letze

    Letze Well-Known Member

    Wow...

    It took him 30 mins to explain this to me..., but I thank you so much 86Celicast for helping me understand what I've been baffled with LOL

    But I got it and I made myself a picture for future reference :p because I didn't know what was what... I found that this was more explanatory... for visual learners like me... PLEASE use in conjunction with the relay Diagram above... numbers used in the image should match your relay... (unless you bought the wrong one...)

    Gonna have a video to make it so clear it will be hard to mess up... LOL

    [​IMG]
     
  4. malodin

    malodin Well-Known Member

    This is not only if your starter doesn't run, this is a very strongly suggested thing to do even if you're not having starter problems at all, eventually you will have a starter problem without this mod. Do the mod and the only starter issue you will have is actual failure of the starter.
     
  5. underscore

    underscore Well-Known Member

    so it's basically a booster for the starter cause the old wiring through all the nonsense gets crappy? hmm I'll do this when the new engine goes in (bah I need one!) cause last I remember it was a little more difficult to turn over than it should have been.
     
  6. malodin

    malodin Well-Known Member

    i know i was able to use the starter solenoid plug directly on the bosch relay terminal they are the same size spade terminal connectors just the factory is hidden in the plastic clip which i just took the whole thing and pluged it in.
     
  7. zak062

    zak062 Well-Known Member

    i just did mine, its was interesting since i suck ass at electrical. I didn't notice any differance but now i know i wont have the problem anymore.
     
  8. 89celicagt

    89celicagt Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Donated!

    Man, you guys rock! :hail:
    -K
     
  9. Rick89GTS

    Rick89GTS Well-Known Member Moderator Donated!

    I also did this fix about 5 years ago and have been trouble-free since. Excellent archived write-up from the old site. I used a spare set of OEM spade connectors for a quick and clean connection.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Waterproof:
    [​IMG]

    Underside markings:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. zak062

    zak062 Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]
    pic of my set up
     
  11. XR Pilot

    XR Pilot Well-Known Member

    This seems to be a pretty common fix, both my ST162's had the relays fitted when I bought them, no starting problems :)

    I had to temporarily disconnect the starter relay on the White Lightning as I thought it was tied into the alarm (which I had no key for) and subsequently had issues starting it...
     
  12. sprey16

    sprey16 Well-Known Member

    hey just to bump up this topic,

    is the wire that gets boosted the little black wire, i can get a picture if you want to know which wire im talking about going to do this mod over the weekend just wanted to clarify if that is the wire.
     
  13. JoeJack88

    JoeJack88 Well-Known Member Super Moderator Donated!

    yeah the black wire goes into the relay and you run a new wire from the relay to the starter motor.
     
  14. sprey16

    sprey16 Well-Known Member

    sweet, will have to go buy a relay for it and do the mod, was kinda shocked when it didnt start after i just drove it. starts fine now tho has only happened to me once.
     
  15. Letze

    Letze Well-Known Member

    I already did this mod on my 5th gen alltrac to make starting easier in colder temps.
     
  16. JoeJack88

    JoeJack88 Well-Known Member Super Moderator Donated!

    Unrelated post`s cleaned up SORRY GUYS!! no police sirens in here.
     
  17. sr5punk

    sr5punk Well-Known Member

    hello all. i am trying to bump this tread up. took me a minute to find it. anyways i have an alarm on my car that already has a wire connected to the + of the battery. i wanted to add fogs a while back and was told I should solder the wire for the fogs to the one that is on there for the alarm. anyways i was wondering if i need to do that for this mod. also did that video of this mod come out yet? i am still unclear on how to do it. sorry. it takes me a while to process slot A into peg B or vise versa
     
  18. zak062

    zak062 Well-Known Member

    Questions about +wire-
    You dont need to solder into the wire for your alarm. You can just connect it to the battery terminal like the other wires. BUT after you may want to get a distribution box... gotta find a link

    Question about starter wireing-
    I suppose i can make a video, but my camera is dead right now... give me a few...
     
  19. zak062

    zak062 Well-Known Member

    heres a vid
    [​IMG]
     
  20. sr5punk

    sr5punk Well-Known Member

    damnit. freaking photobucket is maintenencing. bastards. zak that is too cool of you though. i really appreciate it.
     

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