Starting Problems! Need advice.

[cdbrissey]

I'm pretty mechanically inclined, I've spent two years at a tech school. Anyways, I took the bronco out for a mudding session the other night, had a good time made it home in it. Went through lots of 2-3ft puddles. 33 inch tires on the bronco no lift. There's the background. Went to start the bronco the next morning and i get 1 click and nothing, no lights no gauges. So i figure the battery is dead. But it hadn't shown problems of going out or getting weak. Next symptom, I hook up some jumper cables to the battery from my scion and try to start the bronco. Can hear the starter spinning and the tach is reading 1500. No engine turnover, justy the wahnnnnnnnnnn of the starter. Sounds like it isn't flying out to engage with the flywheel, just spinning in it's tracks. Unplug the jumper cables and it's back to the start all over again. Here's the conclusions I have come to, but if anyone has any ideas feel free to share! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Bad battery and bad starter. (seems obvious but the timing of them going out at the same time has me suspicious).

Could this be caused by a bad connection? Can a bad connection allow the starter to spin but not engage the flywheel? Could a bad connection make the battery appear to be dead until given an extra boost by the jump start?

Only reason I am suspecting a bad connection is all that water I went romping through, engine stalled once in a puddle I think (i was pretty hammered).

p.s. no drunk redneck comments, i am from arkansas though /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

oh and one more question, i mentioned the tach would read 1500 when i spun the starter, does that mean the flywheel is spinning and i have some sort of other problem? Why would the tach read 1500 if the starter isn't engaged to the flywheel?

 

[Justshootme84]

it sounds as if you have no fire or spark. Did you check? may be some moisture inside the dizzy cap. If the starter solenoid on the fender is bad, you could jump it to get started. But if you have no spark, no run. Other thing to check is if you're getting fuel. IF you put your Bronco specs in your signature, it will help to solve your problem. Lot of difference from carb to EFI, JSM84

 

[Yardape]

Sounds to me like your starter filled up with water and quite possibly shorted it out or something along those lines. I would yank out the starter and have it tested. Also throw your battery on a charger wouldnt hurt.

 

[cdbrissey]

Thanks man, I'll do that tonight, update the post in the morning on how it goes. then maybe I'll have my answers /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[cdbrissey]

Alright guys! I got it back running great! I took the battery and the starter off and took them to O'Reilly's to have it tested. Both checked out 100%, did not even need a charge on the battery! So it has to be something in between the battery and the starter. Held the ignition in the "start" position and jiggled the battery cables and tapped on the solenoid. It would kick in and kick out of starting. So I replaced the solenoid and the battery cables and it starts like new! Thanks for the help and ideas guys. Turned out it was a cheap fix and it's ready to hit the mud holes again this weekend! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />