[Hybrid]

Alright this problem has been getting worse for a month or two. When I try to start my sierra the starter sticks. I can hear the click as it tries to engage but get nothing. After 3 or 4 goes it will eventually turn over and start. Yesterday for the first time I actually had to get out and rock the car while in gear before being able to get it to turn over. I've checked the following.
- cabling to starter
- starter bolts are tight
- ring gear on fly wheel isn't trashed
- the clutch isn't partially engaged

About a week before the problem started I dropped the battery when jumping another zook. I checked it for damage but it seems fine. holds charge, the voltage is fine etc. From my limited battery knowledge if I'd busted one of the cells it wouldn't read over 12 volts, right?

Any one had any experience with this issue?

[BlueSuzy]

Swap the battery to see if it makes a difference.

if no difference..

Pull the starter out, pull it apart, give it a clean, regrease solinoid kick arm and gear wheel shaft etc. Put back together and test again. The starter is simple. Only so many parts, impossible to reassemble wrong. Well for most of us..

if no difference..

Ummm

Give starter to me.

[want33s]

Fit a relay so the starter gets full power.
Clean starter out and grease solenoid slide.

[lump_a_charcoal]

First check your battery is getting full herbs... Before you startn it in the morning, check to see if you have 14V.

[Damo]

Wants33s is on the money I reckon.

Just out of interest, is it a 1.6 starter or a modded 1.3?

[Hybrid]

Thanks guys. I'll pull it out, strip it and throw a relay in while I'm at it.

[Damo]

Hybrid wrote:

Thanks guys. I'll pull it out, strip it and throw a relay in while I'm at it.

Gimme a shout if the commutator needs machining

[oscar]

Voltage of a battery is not a good indicator. Needs to be load tested, a quick easy way for you is put a meter on battery, turn lights on and crank(w/o letting it start. watch to see what it drops down to. Battery must be charged before.

when its clicking next, give it a gentle tap. could be sticky or warn brushes. or like mentioned v drop.

[SuziBlu]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

First check your battery is getting full herbs... Before you startn it in the morning, check to see if you have 14V.

No battery carries 14v, a cell hold at brand new full power, 2.2v, there fore a brand spankers will hold 13.2v, but, that does not last long, 13 is fine.

To test a battery, its of no use to just test residual power, you need to test reserve power.

To do this, get your multimeter out, connect to the battery, and get someone to crank the engine, if it drops more than a couple of volts, its either on its way out, or if new, too low CCA

[Hybrid]

I'll check the battery out too then. Its charging at 14.5 but is showing 12.5v when off. I didn't realise it should sit at 13v.

Damo the starter came with the g16A in the green zuk but I'm pretty sure its a 1.3 as I remember seeing it had been ground down when I did the install. I'll check if the commutator needs machining. It's next to the flux capacitor right?

[SuziBlu]

12.5v is not bad, but its the amount of drop when cranking that tells the full story.

[Damo]

Hybrid wrote:

I'll check the battery out too then. Its charging at 14.5 but is showing 12.5v when off. I didn't realise it should sit at 13v.

Damo the starter came with the g16A in the green zuk but I'm pretty sure its a 1.3 as I remember seeing it had been ground down when I did the install. I'll check if the commutator needs machining. It's next to the flux capacitor right?

The bit on the armature that the brushes rub against

[MacDaddy]

Hybrid wrote:

Alright this problem has been getting worse for a month or two. When I try to start my sierra the starter sticks. I can hear the click as it tries to engage but get nothing. After 3 or 4 goes it will eventually turn over and start. Yesterday for the first time I actually had to get out and rock the car while in gear before being able to get it to turn over. I've checked the following.
- cabling to starter
- starter bolts are tight
- ring gear on fly wheel isn't trashed
- the clutch isn't partially engaged

About a week before the problem started I dropped the battery when jumping another zook. I checked it for damage but it seems fine. holds charge, the voltage is fine etc. From my limited battery knowledge if I'd busted one of the cells it wouldn't read over 12 volts, right?

Any one had any experience with this issue?

Hi,
I had this exact problem with my 89 Vit a few months ago, i had someone check it, and they said it was the starter motor, so i ordered a new one $220 later, took it to my Zook Mechanic, at the Suzistore here in Perth, and found it wasnt the starter motor at all, Grrrrr ...

There is a plug in cable that goes from the key barrel to the firewall, the starter wire in it, can become faulty, apparently its a well known fault with Sierra's, and the late Vits have the same setup, so it cost me $18 for a 2nd hand cable, and its all been good since then !

So i would take it to someone who knows Zooks, they know all the problems and fixes !

[want33s]

Clicky starter is a well known problem with Sierra's.... So much so that Lowrangeoffroad and others do a plug and play relay kit to fix it.

Lowrangeoffroad wrote:

Clicky Starter Kit
It does more than stop the Clicking Starter that is so embarrassing and very common to the Samurai. It also gives your starter the power it's been starving for by taking the old worn out factory connection out of the loop!
The problem is that the power turning over the starter goes through your key switch. Newer vehicles run a relay putting direct battery to the starter. If you get in and turn the key, and you find your Samurai has the dreaded Click Syndrome. Then this is the fix it needs. Don't delay in getting this high quality ready to go fix. Because waiting can, and will cause damage to your starter.

Enclosed with the kit are detailed, easy to follow instructions, with excellent full color pictures to assist those who might be mechanically or technically challenged. All wire is 14 gauge automotive cross-linked wire ,(OEM is 18ga.) Everything you need to install this is included, except the screwdriver. This kit uses a very High Quality 30amp relay and also includes a water proof heavy duty fuse holder, and 30 amp fuse to protect the battery to starter connection. Every one is run through a series of tests before they get the stamp of approval to be sold, this is so that you can be assured that you are getting the quality part that you expect.


Price: US$25.00

[MacDaddy]

want33s wrote:

Clicky starter is a well known problem with Sierra's.... So much so that Lowrangeoffroad and others do a plug and play relay kit to fix it.

Lowrangeoffroad wrote:

Clicky Starter Kit
It does more than stop the Clicking Starter that is so embarrassing and very common to the Samurai. It also gives your starter the power it's been starving for by taking the old worn out factory connection out of the loop!
The problem is that the power turning over the starter goes through your key switch. Newer vehicles run a relay putting direct battery to the starter. If you get in and turn the key, and you find your Samurai has the dreaded Click Syndrome. Then this is the fix it needs. Don't delay in getting this high quality ready to go fix. Because waiting can, and will cause damage to your starter.

Enclosed with the kit are detailed, easy to follow instructions, with excellent full color pictures to assist those who might be mechanically or technically challenged. All wire is 14 gauge automotive cross-linked wire ,(OEM is 18ga.) Everything you need to install this is included, except the screwdriver. This kit uses a very High Quality 30amp relay and also includes a water proof heavy duty fuse holder, and 30 amp fuse to protect the battery to starter connection. Every one is run through a series of tests before they get the stamp of approval to be sold, this is so that you can be assured that you are getting the quality part that you expect.


Price: US$25.00

There you go, thats the little Bugger !
So they have something with a relay now, to bypass it, cool !
If it happens again for me, i will get that done