oil change, no start

[Reconisance]

it had starting problems about a month ago, i got it tested and i had to replace the alternator. i got home with the new alternator and it started up flawlessly multpile times, but i still replaced the alternator anyways, just in case. over the past month it has started fine but today when i changed the oil, there was just about a quart of oil in it (i had read the dipstick many times, it was always dead center of the marks) and now, with the correct amount of oil in it, it is well over the dipsticks lines. should i be concerned? anyways, it has reverted back to its days of no starting. the starter clicks like there isnt enough juice in the battery, but the battery is fine, ive charged it, etc.

is there too much oil, a bad starter, or what. this car frustrates me just as true love does. :BangHead:

 

[blkmcnasty]

start the diagnostics with a multimeter and check the battery voltage during cranking (you will need a friend to stand at the battery while you turn the key). It should not drop below 10 volts during crank. Then let us know

 

[Reconisance]

it stayed within 12.5-14.3 during the entire time i tried. oh and about a month ago, when i was in cali, sears automotive (great source) said the battery, fuses, alternator, and starter was fine, but the alternator was bad so i dont know. but yeah, the battery runs average of 13.x so unless it takes a load to crank it, i dont think its the battery.

 

[duh09]

Might sound stupid, but you are draining all your oil right? Like removing the drain plugs from the oil pan, not just draining from the filter?

 

[Reconisance]

hah, of course, removed the plug and filter and let it sit till its all drained. i even double checked everything to make sure nothing was like plugged up because it was just....im surprised the motor hasnt blown up with that amount of (or lack of) oil in it. say it was blocked from coming out, would to much oil cause it to not crank?

 

[blkmcnasty]

You do know that there are two drain plugs right?

 

[Reconisance]

...hm
so where would this so called second drain plug be?

 

[sbr420a]

there is one before the cross member and one on the back of the pan

 

[blkmcnasty]

^^ Wut he said

 

[Reconisance]

done. ok, i feel smart. any enlightenment as to the starting issue? oil's properly drained and changed....thanks

 

[5.0kid]

have you had your starter checked at all? oreilly's can check that
are you getting fuel pressure? check the shrader valve on the fuel line, take the cap off then poke it to see if you have pressure
are you getting spark to the spark plugs?

 

[Reconisance]

yeah, fuel and spark are good, the car runs perfectly....once push started. ill get the starter checked at oreilly's though

 

[sbr420a]

man i work at autozone and i always recommend to my customers it is always better to pull off the starter/alternator and bring it in to us to check out.

 

[Reconisance]

alright, update.
starter is fine, autozone said its working like new. they even told me exactly what type it was, duralast gold. great, but still no start. i am going to check every wire imaginable now, but...this is a bit frustrating now isnt it

EDIT: ran the car itself out to autozone to get it tested, and the battery died/held on ever so slightly, she drove fine, but why would the battery die, everything is good and in working order...could a bad ground kill it?

 

[5.0kid]

hows the alternator? have you checked that? it could make the battery die and make it so you don't have enough spark to start the car, yet be able to push start it...

 

[Reconisance]

alternator is brand new, and it replaced another one which i think also worked fine. they tested the alternator by itself and it was fine, but when it was back in the car they said it read low output, bad diodes, and bad regulator. but like i said, thats only when its in the car. this car is weird.

 

[rz5.0]

check your grounds.

 

[bradtheblade]

+1 on the grounds

 

[modo]

get a bump start button or for a quick and dirty test grab a insulated screw driver. MAKE SURE the car is in neutral and the parking brake on. you can leave the ignition off... connect both of the big terminals on the solonoid with the screw driver. either the starter will engage or it will not.

if it does you have a bad solonoid or the signal wire from the ignition to the solonoid is broken or not working. you will need to trouble shoot that.

if it does nothing then you have a bad starter or a beat battery.

 

[ryclef331]

get a bump start button or for a quick and dirty test grab a insulated screw driver. MAKE SURE the car is in neutral and the parking brake on. you can leave the ignition off... connect both of the big terminals on the solonoid with the screw driver. either the starter will engage or it will not.

if it does you have a bad solonoid or the signal wire from the ignition to the solonoid is broken or not working. you will need to trouble shoot that.

if it does nothing then you have a bad starter or a beat battery.

The screw driver check won't work b/c 94-95s have the solenoid on the starter...