Re: Starter wont engage.
Originally Posted by
Arm_and_a_Leg
For the past 2 weeks I have been troubleshooting my wifes SRT-6. The car won't start. When I put the key in and turn it to accessory, the radio will come on automatically and I can hear the fuel pump engage, when I go to start it, it will not engage the starter at all. No noise at all from the starter, it does not even attempt to crank. I re-soldered the RCM at the trouble points, had a electrical engineer friend of mine do it who works on circuit boards. he tested it with his fancy tool and it has communication to all points.(so it shouldn't be the RCM). No corrosion around the battery terminals, positive, negative, or the grounded point.
Yesterday, I was sick of the headache and decided to get it towed. Before the tow truck arrived, I put the key in and IT STARTED! I had tried jumping it and starting it at least 30 times in the past 2 weeks after trying numerous tricks that I had found on the forum.
I drove it down to the shop and told them not to turn it off until they got it into the garage where they would work on it because I couldn't guarantee that I could get it to start again. The shop tested the battery, alternator, and starter. They said that all came back in good working condition and that the problem came from there being no communication from the cars computer to the starter itself. (I am automatically thinking the worst and hoping that it is not a PCM failure- $5,000 fix.) They asked for an additional hour and a half worth of labor to trouble shoot the issue. They do not have an OBD3 tool and now I am debating to tow it to the dealership to get it worked on.
Any insight or ideas on what it could be?? I have looked up the SKREEM module, but the car at least seems to engage the starter 3 times and shuts off before it needs to be reset. The batteries in the key fob were replaced in the last 6 months. The doors unlock and lock with the key fob. NO CODES were thrown from the car. The car just turned over 20,000 miles and is still young at heart and my wife's pride and joy. Any and all help would be appreciated.
A.J.
Huntsville, AL
Forget the PCM and $5,000.
The fob batteries have nothing to do with your problem, they only power the remote lock/unlock feature.
Forget the RCM.
I'd start looking at the power to the starter solenoid.
Start looking for power at the ignition switch, and the starter circuit.
From the Service Manual.
STARTER FAILS TO
OPERATE.
1. Battery discharged or faulty. 1. Refer to Battery in the Diagnosis and Testing section of Group 8F - Engine Systems. Charge or replace the battery, if required.
2. Starting circuit wiring faulty. 2. Refer to Starting System in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams. Test and repair the starter feed and/or control circuits, if required.
3. Ignition switch faulty. 3. Refer to Ignition Switch and Key Lock Cylinder in the Diagnosis and Testing section of Group 8D - Ignition System. Replace the ignition switch, if required.
4. Park/Neutral position switch faulty or misadjusted. 4. Refer to Park/Neutral Position Switch in the Diagnosis and Testing section of Group 21 Transmission. Replace the park/neutral position switch, if required.
5. Starter solenoid faulty. 5. Refer to Starter Motor in the Diagnosis and Testing section of Group 8F - Engine Systems. Replace the starter motor assembly, if required.
6. Starter motor faulty. 6. If all other starting system components and circuits test OK, replace the starter motor assembly.
Last edited by onehundred80; Mar 16, 2016 at 11:45 PM.