my starter wont engage at all it used to work after turning the key over several times but now nothing. it starts if i jump the starter but not with the key wanna know if its the starter or if i should buy the relay kit please help

Alot of folks (myself included) increase the juice running to it by using a relay. There are several folks who sell the Clicky Fix Kits for Samurai starters.  I got mine from ZukiCreations. Here is 1 he has on Ebay now:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZukiCreations-Suzuki-Samurai-Clicky-Fix-/300670841782?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item460160f3b6

These are good investments and I would recommend purchasing 1. (But after I fixed the problem).

Before I attacked the starter I would check the battery to make sure it is good too. I have seen "good" batteries drain during start up and the appearance is the starter. Your battery should put out 12-14 volts while running it should also remain constant while nothing is on.

If all of that doesn't produce a cure then I would look at the starter solenoid. These can be replaced easily and you don't have to buy a starter.

I think you can fix the solenoid too if you can take it apart and either sand the pits off of the contact ring (it looks like a big washer) or possibly flip it over and reinstall the solenoid. I know that with Chevrolet and Saturn solenoids this can be done. I have never had the pleasure of working on a Suzuki solenoid yet so you will have to tell me if this is possible if you get this far on the list.

Lastly it could be the starter IF the armature is worn out. You can have the starter bench tested to see if it is working properly. Alot of places will do this for free such as AutoZone.

and how exactly does that hook up? got pics

 I can get pics but it comes with clear instructions. (They are so easy a Caveman could do it.) But as I said I would do this after I fixed my battery / solenoid / starter. problem. If you put the clicky fix on 1st the problem will still be there and you will be disappointed.

                                                                                   Tux...

my starter wont engage at all it used to work after turning the key over several times but now nothing. it starts if i jump the starter but not with the key wanna know if its the starter or if i should buy the relay kit please help

I had the same problem when I installed new motor.  Starter would work if I jumped the solenoid with screwdriver, so there wasn't a problem with starter (maybe with solenoid).  Jumping the starter (Large wire with jumper cables) bypasses the starter solenoid, so you don't know if this modification will work.  If jumping to the solenoid turns starter over every time then this should help.
 
I took a relay and ran starter solenoid wire to coil side of relay.  Run wire from other side of coil to ground.
I took power off the fuse block next to battery, and ran that through a 15 amp fuse to the relay.  Then run the other relay wire to starter solenoid.

THIS IS NOT A FIX, it does not fix anything.  It applies battery voltage to the starter solenoid with only going through the relay and fuse.  I fused it to 15 amps because I did not want to have to blow the 30 amp fuse I jumped out of.  You could take it directly off the battery through a fuse to the relay (fuses are cheap insurance).  I have been running this for over a year, with no issues.  Yes, replacing the starter switch may FIX the problem correctly; replacing the starter solenoid may FIX the problem correctly.  This modification allows what I have to work.  If jumping 12 volts to starter solenoid does not work every time then this will not work every time.  Replace the starter solenoid.

Thanks Brd Hntr... That adds to what I was tryin to tell them!!!


I have asked this several times but never gotten an answer. Do you know it the solenoid cap can be removed and the contact washer flipped over and reused? Some Chevrolets are this way and I was just wondering? It's such an easy fix to do that.

                                                                                                             Tux...

batterys good and so is my starter

Then I guess it is your wiring or you switch huh.... 

Thanks Brd Hntr... That adds to what I was tryin to tell them!!!


I have asked this several times but never gotten an answer. Do you know it the solenoid cap can be removed and the contact washer flipped over and reused? Some Chevrolets are this way and I was just wondering? It's such an easy fix to do that.

                                                                                                             Tux...

No, I have not taken the solenoid out to check whether I could do that.  (Showing your age cause only a few does that any more, or even knows about it.)
When I changed out the motors, my newer one started clicking more and more.  I needed to start it so tried jumping across the starter battery wire to solenoid wire with screwdriver, instant start.  After a couple of times having to do this I thought I could just jump it with a solenoid, which worked just great.  Then I started reading about the clicky starter fix kits, seems I had reinvented the wheel.
I had gotten in a discussion about the Fix, not fixing anything.  So now I say it doesn't fix any thing, it is another way of applying battery power to the starter solenoid, that seems to have more effect than going through the vehicle wiring system.

For my $.02 it is much easier than changing out the starter solenoid, then ignition switch, and then finding the frayed connector that was at fault.

I agree with you 110%....

and yes I am a child of the late 60's - 70's... Back when muscle cars were just raw muscle.... and oh soo many more topics to talk about.

Thanks for the insight and added comments about the clicky fix... solenoids.... and starters. I appreciate the added comments although I am not sure we provided the poster with a clear direction.

My advice is start with the simple things and work out from that vantage point. Test each item and move rite along until you find the root cause.

so i hooked up that wiring kit i bought and it started right up and still starts up but now my starter stays engaged any ideas cause my starter tests good

The bendix is bad or sticking in the starter. When the bench test was preformed they most likely checked the electirical flow through the starter and the bendix spun. It may have an intermitant problem of engagement.

so i hooked up that wiring kit i bought and it started right up and still starts up but now my starter stays engaged any ideas cause my starter tests good

If the starter stays engaged (keeps turning with the motor running & no power to it), it probably has a bad bendix.
If the starter keeps running after motor starts then the problem is in the power circuit.
  As you just installed a new power source to solenoid I would
   Check that that power to solenoid stops when not in start position (test more than once). 
     If yes and starter keeps running w/o power to solenoid, then solenoid is bad.
     If no then, wiring is incorrect, or bad starter switch.  Check to see if power to relay stops when switch is not in start.

I could go on guessing on what is/could be the problem.  Semantics is very important in your descriptions so that we understand what you are saying.  But you can see with my outline, the idea is to Divide and Conquer.
 

Oh yer gud Brd Hntr.....  Very  nicely written.....

it's taken a bit but I think we're comin round da bend......   

I have asked this several times but never gotten an answer. Do you know it the solenoid cap can be removed and the contact washer flipped over and reused? Some Chevrolets are this way and I was just wondering? It's such an easy fix to do that.

                                                                                                             Tux...

No - the solenoid I have here has the outer can "crimped" to the plastic - any attempt to release the crimp will probably destroy the plastic endcap.