Hi everyone, I've got a problem with my Tracker. I had it out doing some Christmas shopping and got stranded at the mall. I get in it to come home, put the key in, get all the dash lights to come on and all the normal dings and bells, turn the key and nothing. I figure I have a dead battery, so I called a buddy to come jump me. He brought one of those battery pack deals and it worked like a charm. So on the way home, I stopped at the parts store to get an alternator. I figured it needed an alternator because the past few nights in traffic I've noticed my headlights get pretty dim just sitting at a redlight, hitting the throttle brightens them up.

So I get home, take out the old alternator and put the new one in. I think I'm in business! Hop in and try to start it and just get a clicking sound. Well, I figured the battery just wasn't charged. So I put it on a charger for awhile and it would't hold a charge. I went back to the parts store and got a new battery. Get back home, put it in and the same thing happens. It just clicks. Finally after trying it several times it did start.

Well, that led me to think that the starter was shot. So back to the parts store I go, get a new starter. Get home, put it in, and now I don't even get the click sound anymore. I even took the new starter out, and took it back to the parts store to have it tested to make sure it works. It worked fine when they hooked it up to the machine and tried it.

Any ideas what I should look for or try next? I'd really appreciate the help, this is my daily driver and my loaner vehicle I've used today is gone tomorrow.

my 96 tracker did that but it turned out to be the wire for the solenoid

Check your ground strap to the engine too.

I am guessing that you made sure to hook up
the small wire with a spade terminal to the selonoid,
you will get no starter action without it. Also make
sure that same little wire has a good crimp on the
terminal end, mine went bad from age, just put on
a new end and it was fine, but I had to use a wrench
across the battery terminal and the little selonoid terminal
to get the trucklet started

Wild

I'm pretty sure the ground to the engine is good from the negative battery cable. I cleaned off the end with sandpaper before i put it all back together the second time. That little spade connector on mine is kind of loose, doesn't really go on like I think it should, but it feels no different than when I took it off. Do you think I should put a new connector on there anyways?

Since I posted I tried jumping the starter. I took a wire from the positive battery cable down to that little spade connector. Didn't do anything, except spark alot, haha!

Also got out a multimeter and checked the battery. 12.86 volts is what it was showing. Next check down to the positive side of the solenoid, and got 12.8 there. I've been posting on another board, and they said while i may be getting voltage, the wires could be corroded where it wouldn't draw current. Makes sense to me I guess.

What should I check next? Any ideas at all?

sounds like starter selonoid check voltage on starter when trying to start

Ross

Hey Wild or anyone for that matter,

What does that spade connector go to? When I hit the key and hold it down like I would to start the truck, I only get a reading of 8.96 on the spade connector. Shouldn't this be up near 12 volts?

Also, I think the solenoid is good because it's a new starter, and I had it tested at the parts store this evening. It spun up great in the store.

Thanks to all that answer

Is it a 5 spd?

If so, check the clutch cutout switch (prevents starter from turning unless clutch pedal is pushed down).  It is on the pedal mechanism up under the dash. 

Mine got so temperamental that I just pulled the plug off the switch and ran a jumper across the plug...

My 90 has been doing something similiar.  Occasionaly when I turn the key I get lights but no cranking.  If I run the auto trans selector through the gears and back to park it starts fine.  I think there is a problem with the neutral start switch.  Your's may be doing something similiar.

Should be 12v on the small wire to the spade terminal,
this activates the selonoid, which is what pushes the
starter gear into the flywheel/flexplate and then gives
the starter it's high amp 12V current.

if when you jump a 12V source to the spade, you should
get a click of the selonoid, if it just sparks, there is a problem,
and just because the starter motor turns it doesn't mean the
selonoid is good, because you can get 12V to just the starter
and it will rev, but not enguage the teeth into the flywheel.

I would tighten or replace the spade on the wire, and check
voltage again, if it's still low, you could have a bad key switch
in the collum. I had to fix my switch, took it all apart, and I think
I flipped the contactor to where there were no grooves in it.

I don't remember exactly what I did, but I got it fixed in my 89'
I have no idea how your year might be different, mine had no
way to remove the switch, it's soldered to the wiring harness.

Good Luck
Wild

thats why i love my sammy i just ran a new wire from the ignition switch to the solenoid