Starter or Alternator

[Hohmanb]

I was driving thru some pretty heavy rain yesterday and after i parked my 93 limited and it sat for about 3 hours i went to start it to no avail. I was thinking that something in the engine compartment got wet causing it not to start. It acted odd though whenever i first tried to start it. The interior lights kinda faded in and out and were dim as if the battery was extremely low on juice. After trying the key a few times, it doesn't even crank over now.
I jumped it and let it run for about 15 min then i shut it down and tried to restart it and it was dead again.
It did this once to me about a month ago when i left my car at the long term parking at the airport. Once i got it home i replaced the battery and havn't had any problems since.
The starter was replaced about a year ago but i don't know the age of the alternator.

Any ideas?

 

[JStrider]

autozone and similar places will test your battery/alternator and starter for you.

 

[exploder619]

start your car and leave it running forabout a min. then disconnect the negative battery cable if the enginediesthen it is your alternater. I had a similar problem with 93 explorer what does the engine do exactly? will it even crank?

 

[Lt.Jim]

If you replaced the battery a month ago my bet would be the alt. You may also want to check the condition of the batt cables. Ive noticed that my terminals tend to grow alot of corrosion when it is really damp/humid outside.

 

[Hohmanb]

I'm still plagued by this problem. In the last 3 days i've done: 1. The battery was tested at autozone and said to be in good condition. 2. I've replaced the alternator with a remanufactured one from autozone. (because it was 4th of july weekend i didn't really check around but 135 for an alternator seems like a rip-off) 3. Once the new alternator was installed i had to jump the truck and then i took it for a 15min ride around the block-shut off the engine-and nothing. The starter doesn't even turn over.

I'm beginning to think something is shorting out.

 

[Papa]

start your car and leave it running forabout a min. then disconnect the negative battery cable if the enginediesthen it is your alternater. I had a similar problem with 93 explorer what does the engine do exactly? will it even crank?

Never ever disconnect the battery terminals on vehicle that is running. The resulting changes in the alternators collapsing magnetic field will cause excessively high terminal voltages that will destroy nearly every electrical component that is not designed for voltages in excess of 120 volts like your alternator and computer. You could do that sort of thing with the older generators but never an alternator and certainly not in today’s computer oriented vehicles.
Remember you have to drive seven to ten miles to put back into a battery what was consumed starting it.
Take it to AutoZone or someplace like that and get it tested.

 

[ma96782]

Take out the battery and alt. head down to your local large auto parts store, have them both bench tested (usually for free)........proceed from there.

Aloha, Mark

 

[sn0border88]

If ytou suspect the starter, and its wont start sometime then get a hammer (a big one) and tap on the starter a few times and try and start it. if this works then you may be looking at a burnt out starter.

 

[Hohmanb]

The battery is new-the alternator is new-the starter is maybe 8 months old. What are your thoughts of a possible bad solenoid?

 

[ma96782]

You could "jump or by pass" the solenoid.....and see if it'll start.

Tapping the side of the starter will sometimes work.....though, in the long run......you should replace the starter anyway.

Aloha, Mark

 

[sn0border88]

take a screwdriver or a key and place it between the two terminals on the starter sol. and the engine should crank. it wont start unless the key is in the on position. If that works constantly then it isnt your starter its the sol.

 

[Noved87]

use jumper cables to go from batt pos terminal to starter it should crank WATCH FOR SPARKS!!!

 

[Hohmanb]

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice or input for this problem. My neighbor who restores classic car looked at it for me and in 2 minutes replaced the positive battery cable and it immediately started.
So 4 days and 140 dollars later, the only thing wrong was a worn battery cable.

Thanks again.