start issues after intercooler install help!

[Mikerthebiker]

before this car started fine (but in the last 2 weeks or so i noticed i have notice it takes a little bit longer to start the car, but it didnt seem like it was working improperly.

before the install i drove for about 5 mins to the local store, but it didnt even get to operating temp

so today i tried to tackle installing a new TMIC, i followed a few walkthroughs on the site and everything seemed to go on fine. so i finished up getting everything back in and now the car wont start, the starter is making no noises when i try starting it. i tried using a wire from the battery to the starter just to test, and seems like i hear a humming from the pass side of the engine and maybe a click every second or so. but no starter action! does this seem like the starter has died somehow in the install?(does that even make sence?)

i have noticed here and there maybe once every 1 or 2 weeks the starter wouldnt engage unless i fidgeted around with the shifter, or put it into nutral, but so far this has not helped. this car is my daily driver so the sooner i could get it fixed the better! anyone got any ideas on what i may have done? my electrical skills are pretty minimal so i hope someone can help

[kimokalihi]

Did you possibly break any ground wires? There's one on the firewall on the left side of the pitch mount. Tranny to body ground. Then the ground from the body to the battery is right behind the driver's side headlight.

Try running two wires to the starter. One ground and one power directly from the battery and make sure your battery has sufficient voltage 12.2ish.

[Mikerthebiker]

from what i can tell i havent, the only two even in the area (that i can see, and please tell me if im wrong) is the one going from the tranny to the thing the dogbone connects to, and the one thats connected to the starter bracket itself, i can seem to see any others. im really hoping i havent messed something up.

[kimokalihi]

Whoops forgot about the starter ground. There's 3 then. Your battery has 12 volts?

[vrg3]

Answer kimokalihi's question about your battery's voltage -- to me it seems most likely you just left a door open while doing the intercooler install and so your battery went flat. If the battery's too weak you might get occasional clicking and humming as the starter tries to engage but it won't be strong enough to actually engage.

[Legacy777]

I concur about the battery as well.


BTW, good to see you back on the bbs Vikash!

[Mikerthebiker]

the battery is reading 12v, but it appears like someone installled a external starter solinoid of some kind. i managed to get her running by jumping to the starter and ill take it to the shop by my work tommorow, i dont trust myself to not mess electronics up, so ill see if he can find the problem. at least i know it isnt the starter nor battery

thanks again for the help guys, atleast i can start her up and get to work

[vrg3]

An external starter solenoid? Weird. Maybe part of an alarm or remote start or something?

Hmm. Did you disconnect the battery when doing the intercooler install? Maybe it's some weird security system thing that got reset and now won't let the car start.

Well, keep us posted.

And thanks, Josh!