88escortracing

whats up fellas,

i have a 88 ford escort gl 1.9L with 93K miles. recently the head gasket went, as soon as i got that to hold with the help of thermagasket something in the starting system went. whenever i try to start it, it clicks once then doesn't turn over or anything. any idea where to start? starter motor, starter realy, ignition???

any help would be great thanks

 

Johnny Mullet

If it is clicking, then it is either the starter or the engine is siezed.

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88escortracing

ok well im pretty sure the engine isn't seized, i drove it over from the garage to the house, turned it off then came back outside 10 mins later and it wouldn't start.

but... i was reading the trouble shooting in the haynes repair manual and it says if when the ignition is activated and the starter relay clicks but the starter motor doensn't turn then the problem is either the battery, starter relay connections, or starter motor connections... is this accurate or do you think i should just go ahead and replace the starter motor??

thanks

thefonz

I wouldn't replace anything without some further testing. A weak battery,or bad connection or even a bad relay can give the single or rapid clicks.

Canadiancarnut

I would start by hooking up a voltmeter to the battery see if you have juice, if not, it could be a toasted battery or just needs a good charge. If it has lots of power, I'd crawl underneath and see if the power is making it to the starter itself. If not, then it's a wiring problem. If there's current all the way to the starter, then it is either the starter or starter solenoid. Easiest way to check is probably to to remove the starter and take it to a parts store, most of them have bench testers specifically for starters/alternators amd can tell you if it's shot. Hope that helps.

fantasydean

hi
i'm new too this forum but i have the same problem
with my escort m reg 1995
i'm going for starter motor as mine is single click i can jump start it
and if i give starter a few taps with hammer it will start
the problem i have is i am not sure how too get starter motor of the car.
hope this helps

JarodMacintosh

It comes out the bottom pretty nice. It's a little tight, I had to use a long extension with a universal right before the socket. Don't think I had to take anything else off. But if it starts after you rap it with a hammer then it is usually the bearing in the starter motor that are shot.