Engine Won't Crank

[nijathomp5]

Hey Friends!

If MS3 suddenly won't start, try cleaning the corrosion off of the flag terminal on the starter solenoid. There are only two wires connecting to the starter. One is the solenoid wire and the other is a strong heavy lead carrying full power from the battery.

THE SCENARIO

This past week I drove my 2008 MS3 all over the place and everything about the car worked as normal.

Until one instance I attempted to start the car and the starter never kicked. The relays and lights inside the car clicked and went through their normal procedure but no crank from the starter. Fortunately when I discovered the problem I was on a hill and could drift start the car.

Read a random post on the web that mentioned corrosion on the solenoid wire and that was the fix.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL

Nick

[silvapain]

If cleaning the corrosion off the small wire and terminal didn't fix it, the starter is probably toast. I had to replace mine year before last.

You can try wiggling the small wire while a friend tries to start the car. Or you can have your friend push the car and you can clutch drop it in first gear to start it anytime you need to go somewhere.

[SaveMelMac]

Have you tested the battery?

[nijathomp5]

Sanding the corrosion off of the solenoid flag terminal fixed it for me.

[SpencerC]

Nice to see a problem responded too by the OP within a day! Nice.

[aviator79]

Im having this issue with my ms6. Have to pop hood and wiggle the harness under TB to get my car to start most of the time. Had same issue on another ms6 that I swapped moter in. Cut wire. Put new gold plated female blade connector on and seemed to fix but buyer still had issues so assume I didnt clean male end on starter good enough.
problem with my car is FMM is going to make it tough to access from bottom. Going to see if I can do it tonight but may have to pull FMM or intake...groan. Hope it is connection and not bad wire that has break under insulation causing intermittent connection. If so I can replace the wire but I guess I will start with trying to clean starter terminal.

[aviator79]

Well I can reach it from top and undo clip but cant pull it off. Wire is thick so must be bad connection. Guess i will be pullimg intake or FMM.

[aviator79]

Got it. Using two hands. One coming from by TB with short flat head to push it off. Pita. Now to try and clean.

[frothy]

Originally Posted by aviator79 Well I can reach it from top and undo clip but cant pull it off. Wire is thick so must be bad connection. Guess i will be pullimg intake or FMM.

Not trying to give you a hard time, but it looks as though you went about removing the connector in the wrong fashion.

To remove it, depress the tab and simply slide it off. If you don't depress the tab, the connector will continue to bite down on whatever it's connected to. Looks as though you pryed the connector apart...



Don't blame you, though... I've only ever accessed it by removing the intake manifold. I imagine it's quite the struggle any other way.

[aviator79]

Well I had engine out of other car and that is how I did that one. So I just looked at connector on harness and doesn't seem like press in down on it does anything. But didnt have starter near to test. I assumed prong went thru hole in spade to hold it on but idk. It seems to work my way but will make a note to check when I pull starter off engine.

Could not reach with sand paper but got wire brush in there and looks better from pics.
MAKE SURE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY.
Top wire is live which I knew but was lazy until spark but didnt blow anything luckaly.

Hopefully it works. Need to glue main wire cover back on as hung broke.

This is def something I would clean anytime intake is off.

Note bottom two pics upsidown (as are pics in above posts)

[aviator79]

Time to do this all over again.