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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: sirsillywalks on September 03, 2004, 07:58:46 PM

Title: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 03, 2004, 07:58:46 PM
Well after 3 years of driving my truck with no problems what so ever I finally have a problem. I turn the key and my dash lights ie brake and all that turn on but the starter doesnt do anything.
My step dad said if the lights dont dim while I turn the key, it means the starter isnt getting the power. My lights and everything work though.
He thinks it might be a relay, any ideas?
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 03, 2004, 08:09:36 PM
i would start by taking off both of your battery connections and cleaning them really well

if that doesnt work make sure the battery is really charged (happened to me before lights were bright but the batt was dead)

if that doesnt solve anything get down to the started and clean those connections...

finally if that doesnt work take off the starter and take it to something like kragens..they will usually test the starter for u
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 03, 2004, 09:34:34 PM
I have the battery on the charger, ill see if it starts in the morning.
I also forgot to say that we did get it to pop start but it wouldnt idle and died after 2 seconds.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: steveofrost on September 04, 2004, 04:01:54 AM
Alt?

steveo
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 04, 2004, 10:12:45 AM
dont blame the alt just yet..my mom has an 02 GV v6

it started really slowly and would idle fine..but the min u put it in drive it would die  :o i got all worried and thought it was something major...all it was was the batt needed to be charged and later replaced lol


edit..i also forogot to mention that my batt died one night presumably from the stereo :( lol

but we got a jump start..and the car drove..it just had no battery power lol if u turned on the heater the lights would dim REALLY badly because it was running straight from the alt
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 04, 2004, 02:33:20 PM
Update:
The battery is fully charged, still same problem.
We tried to pop start it but it did nothing, no spark.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 04, 2004, 03:01:02 PM
ok so u are getting power everywhere in the interior

do the headlights/taillights work?

does the starter still not click??

im sorry but i do not know the elec system very well in these cars...

i dont know if the coil gets power after the starter..like some cars the power goes through the starter doesnt it??

i think these cars power goes to the fuse box then to the starter right??
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: explosivo on September 04, 2004, 03:11:28 PM
new coil? Distributor cap and rotor? wires and plugs? Some things you may want to check out...
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 04, 2004, 03:18:51 PM
becarefull if u replace the rotor..my idiot friend (who i have disowned as a friend in the past few days) totaly screwed up his distributor when he put his new rotor on
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: explosivo on September 04, 2004, 03:21:58 PM
Quote
becarefull if u replace the rotor..my idiot friend (who i have disowned as a friend in the past few days) totaly screwed up his distributor when he put his new rotor on

Did he force it on with a hammer or something?

I thought that's one of the more idiot-proof things to do :P
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 04, 2004, 03:26:34 PM
first he cross threaded the set screw for the rotor..then tried to drill it out making the holeoblong

then he ran the dist w.o the cover between the rotor and goings on inside the dist..also he pushed the little shaft the rotor sits on deeper into the valve train..so the rotor just ate the crap out of everything inside the dist..  :o

after all that it should have been no shock to me he did what he did to me..sigh waht an idiot im glad i couldnt fix it now =)
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 04, 2004, 03:29:17 PM
Quote
ok so u are getting power everywhere in the interior

do the headlights/taillights work?

does the starter still not click??

im sorry but i do not know the elec system very well in these cars...

i dont know if the coil gets power after the starter..like some cars the power goes through the starter doesnt it??

i think these cars power goes to the fuse box then to the starter right??

Yes int, brake, and headlights get power.
The starter no longer clicks, but something near the firewall clicks about 2 seconds after I let go of the key clicks.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 04, 2004, 03:33:34 PM
hmmm if u can have a buddy take a pic of what he hears the clicking coming from...

double check all ur fuses and such make sure they are in good working order
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 04, 2004, 05:13:45 PM
I think its called the ignition module...
Its the part betweek the key and the coil.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: hcgalvin on September 04, 2004, 08:34:32 PM
I'd say check all your ground wires... look for corrosion, especially by the starter, and the wires from the battery to the starter.

Heather
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 04, 2004, 08:55:13 PM
Even if the starter was not working it would still pop start which it didnt
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: trackermad on September 04, 2004, 10:58:06 PM
Since I just finished replacing my entire wiring harness Im pretty knowlegable with the wiring in these things now.  There are actually two relays that will click shortly after the key is turned on.  One is the fuel pump and the other if you have it is the ABS relay.  Trackicks wont dim the lights unless there is enough power present to kick in the relay for the starter.  Heather is definatly on the right track I think look carfully at the terminals on your battery if there is any black coloration on them clean them untill they are shiny silver.  The next step I would do is connect a jumper wire to the signel imput on the starter to see if it will work by itself.  If it doesnt work then thats your problem if it does then the problem is further upstream.  Maybe try checking your clutch swich (If its a stick) or your neutral start swich (auto).  Not to over simplify this but the last time my wife said her car wouldnt start I had to go out and pull the floor matt down so she could push the clutch all the way down.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: hcgalvin on September 05, 2004, 05:34:02 AM
I'll rephrase my post some.

" I'd say check all your ground wires... look for corrosion, especially by the starter, and the wires from the battery to the starter.  "

;)

Heather
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: jerryp58 on September 05, 2004, 08:49:13 AM
I certainly agree with checking all of the connections, including the grounds, but have you checked to see if you getting any spark at the plugs?

Also, you may want to make sure that the distributor is tight.  A loose distributor can throw the timing off enough to where it won't run.

Come to think of it, could it be the timing belt?  If you're not getting any spark, pull the dist cap and make sure the rotor is turning.

A "no start" problem is always a pain to diagnose.  Good Luck!
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 06, 2004, 07:17:45 AM
How do I check to see if theres a spark?
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 06, 2004, 09:50:40 AM
Update:
Checked battery cables and grounds and they are fine.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: jerryp58 on September 06, 2004, 01:00:23 PM
Quote
How do I check to see if theres a spark?


The inexpensive way would be to pull one of the plug wires and place it near a grounded piece of metal (not near fuel or fuel vapors please :o ) and have somebody crank the engine.  You should see a spark between the metal tip inside the boot at the end of the plug wire and the grounded metal.  It's easier to do in the dark.  And, please don't hold the wire, there are a lot of volts going through that wire and it produces a good shock (he said from experience ::) ).

There are, of course, relatively inexpensive continuity testors specifically made for plug wires, but the above method should work.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: tonka-toy on September 07, 2004, 05:08:17 AM
try this

main red heavy cable from battery to starter motor
small wire from battery to pos side of coil
small wire from solenoid to pos side of coil ... just touch this one on and when she runs remove it quickly or the starter will stay engaged.
this will prove the starter and coil. then it sounds like the ecu is fooked
hope this helps

the feed from  the pos side of the coil to battery pos will power up your ignition backwards and power up the fuel pump... it works on mine
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: 92Sidekick4x4 on September 07, 2004, 05:19:09 AM
i had tyhe same problem, i was getting no spark, turns out i needed a new computer, im not going to go into more on price and shit cause im still pissed, lets just say for the cost of the computer i could have had a good lift.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Mike71 on September 07, 2004, 05:50:01 AM
u can probably buy a used computer from hawk or something for a pretty decent price
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 13, 2004, 04:27:08 PM
I had a mechanic look at my truck and he says that the motor has froze. He says that when you push the truck back while in gear you should be able to see the motor slightly turn left or right as you push on the truck. Also he says that when I tried to pop start, the wheels didnt turn at all it just left marks on the drive way where the tires were. The Tires should have at least moved a little when I let the clutch out.
Do you think this could be the reason why it wont run?
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: wildgoody on September 13, 2004, 04:49:46 PM
Pull the spark plugs and see if it
will turn over, if it does, what is
comming out of the cylinders ?

Coolant ? and if it don't turn over
is there any oil in the engine ?
if the oil is fine and it turns over
with the plugs out, then you got a
blown head gasket, get busy or sir silly,
Walks ;)

Wild
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 13, 2004, 08:32:58 PM
It doesnt turn over...
Yes theres oil I may be a noob but im not that bad lol.
Just had an oil change a month ago or so.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: tonka-toy on September 13, 2004, 09:49:04 PM
is the coolant clear from traces of oil cos this is sounding like the engine is knackered.

put a large socket on the front pulley bolt on the crankshaft with a long handle and an extension, leave the car in neutral with the handbrake on and see if you can turn the engine over by hand using the socket and long extension. always rotating the engine clockwise as viewed from the front  if not you are gonna have to pull the motor and strip and rebuild it or get a used/recon engine unit from someone
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: Zukipilot on September 13, 2004, 10:02:07 PM
Quote
It doesnt turn over...
Yes theres oil I may be a noob but im not that bad lol.
Just had an oil change a month ago or so.


I'd check. I've seen some realy stupid shit done at oil change shops >:(. I Would think if the motor froze that it had to of been making some crazy noises before you shut her down last time :-/ The tires not turning while trying to roll start it does not sound good. I was going to say to check the fuse block under the hood and make sure all of them are good. But I think you may have something beyond that. Definately check your fluids. Make sure that there is no coolant in the oil.

Were you driving it last? Was there any strange noises, knocking, excess heat, etc... Last time it was ran?

Zig
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: trackermad on September 14, 2004, 12:55:44 AM
Is your trucklet an 8 or a 16 valve?  I believe the 16 is an interference motor so if you pop a timing belt it could stop the motor without making any noises first.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: wildgoody on September 14, 2004, 03:03:26 AM
I found out by trying it, the 16V
motor is not an interference motor,
I put the piston TDC and turned the
cam with a wrench, no contact, that's
not saying at high RPM this would still
be the case, but it's kind of nice to
know when it comes down to pulling the
head or just doing the timing belt

Wild
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: trackermad on September 14, 2004, 03:17:39 AM
Thanks for the info wild I wasnt sure but I thought I read here that it was at some point.  That takes a load off my mind thuogh because I wasnt sure if I should change the timing belt in my new 16v or not.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: sirsillywalks on September 14, 2004, 05:39:08 AM
Last time it ran was 2 weeks ago. It wasnt making any strange noises, not overheating or anything.
Fuses are al good, yes its a 16 valve.
Title: Re: Tracker wont start
Post by: trackermad on September 14, 2004, 05:48:23 AM
Just for kicks turn out the top 3 or 4 bolts on the timing bolt coverad peak inside to see if the belt is broke.