Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Big voltage drop at Starter solenoid

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    38
    My Cars
    1988 e30 320i manual

    Big voltage drop at Starter solenoid

    Hi Guys, Needing some help here. i have a no crank no start*sigh*...ive done some testing on the car...found the issue out to be the starter... i have tested with a multimetre, i am receiving battery voltage between the two large terminals and battery voltage at the solenoid wire but this is where the problem starts, when turning the key on the on position, it drops down to 11 volts or so which is acceptable im sure, but as soon as i try and start the car, i have a huge voltage drop, it drops down to 3 volts. Which is worrying me because just the day before she started up, had a flat tyre, drove to the gas station to get the tyre plugged, and she wouldnt start, the engine sounded like it wanted to take but just would not. she started cranking healthy at first but as i tried again and again, the starter became slower and slower with every try until all i got was a click noise. battery is perfect, 12.60volts and i have changed the battery in the car with a brand new one. did not help...has anyone else had this issue...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Grandview, MO
    Posts
    493
    My Cars
    1989 Bmw325IC
    Sounds like a bad starter motor. With a heavy cable short across the big wire from the battery that attaches to the solenoid and the big wire on solenoid that goes to the starter motor. If you get big spark and no action from the starter or if just no action, you have a bad starter.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Joliet,IL
    Posts
    1,121
    My Cars
    87 325is 96 GMC Suburban
    Check the ground cable connecting the oil pan to the frame/unibody rail on the driverside of the motor below the airflow meter.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    38
    My Cars
    1988 e30 320i manual
    I've tried jumping the starter with the screwdriver method...I dont even get alot of spark or any action from the starter....and with the grounding cable, I cleaned the contacts on where it bolts on...even bolted it up to a new section...and still no luck....what I have noticed is, when the car was working perfectly, I would switch the headlights on and they would come on...but if I had to do that now, only one park light lights up...the rest are dead

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Joliet,IL
    Posts
    1,121
    My Cars
    87 325is 96 GMC Suburban
    The next place to check would be the main power distribution terminal at the firewall just above the exhaust manifolds

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
    Posts
    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    And, just for the heck of it, add another ground or two.
    No e30s again.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    38
    My Cars
    1988 e30 320i manual
    will test the distribution terminal, and see what i get... and for the grounds, think im just going to replace all of em.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Joliet,IL
    Posts
    1,121
    My Cars
    87 325is 96 GMC Suburban
    Just remember that having 12 volts at a connection does not guarantee that the connection will handle the amp/current load if there is corrosion or loose somehow. This is basically what you are experiencing at the beginning of this post. It’s like having water flowing from your garden hose (voltage), but then when you attempt to spray the water (load) the hose leaks/sprays somewhere else before it does what you need it to do at your end.
    Last edited by msservices; 05-16-2019 at 08:02 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    38
    My Cars
    1988 e30 320i manual
    I'm leaning more towards a bad solenoid, as I have somebody experiencing the exact same issue and hes mac has said it was his starter/solenoid

Similar Threads

  1. guide for replacing starter / solenoid, '87 325i?
    By neur0sis in forum 1983 - 1991 (E30)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-27-2005, 10:22 PM
  2. Starter solenoid?
    By dmurray14 in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-25-2005, 12:02 AM
  3. starter or starter solenoid? click click click??
    By anylouder in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 04-09-2005, 01:05 PM
  4. cheap starter and starter solenoid?
    By anylouder in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-08-2005, 12:46 PM
  5. Starter Solenoid Issues
    By uberpanzer in forum 1975 - 1983 (E21)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-05-2004, 06:13 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •