Hello everyone. My '89 GTS is having some starting issues. I've gone over most of the existing threads that deal with this, and have yet to do the starter relay mod. My starter clicks and turns fine though, so I don't think the wiring is the main problem. On a fully charged battery, the starter turns over, but seems way higher pitched than normal. I'm not hearing the usual chugging sound it usually makes. If I persist and crank it a few times, a may get a single "clunk" noise I'm assuming is a backfire, but even this isn't happening any more. I've checked my EFI fuses and relays, and they seem to be fine. I bought the car from a shady auto wrecker who had it on the lot for over a year, so I'm suspecting three things - either the fuel gauge is broken and the gas tank is empty (or the gas is contaminated, as it has been sitting for a while), the starter is shot, or maybe I have a fuel pump problem. Incidentally, I had the car checked out my a mechanic before buying it, and apart from minor oil leaks and an interior seal issue, it passed with good marks. I had a couple of noob questions. Do your gas gauges revert to "empty" when the car is parked, or do the always show the gas level even when the key is out of the ignition -- I'm just wondering if mine is stuck, as it reads half full with no key in. Do you have to remove the exhaust mani on the 3sge in order to access the starter? It seems impossible to remove with the mani in the way. Any help or advice is good. My plans are to replace both the starter and alternator, and if this doesn't fix the problem, then drop it off at a garage. At least with those two systems replaced, it narrows down the issue and gives me a bit of insurance against being taken to the cleaners by a mechanic. Pic of the ride in question:
It sounds like the starter is just spinning up not engaging the flywheel, Yes the fuel shows with the ignition off Yes, you can remove the starter with out removing the manifold although it does take a bit of wriggling out
unrelated to your problem, my vert always starts on the second turn, and almost never the first, no idea why
So word came back from the mechanic. The starter and alternator is fine, spark plugs are working, but there's no compression in any of the engine cylinders. They've ruled out a rebuild and recommended an engine swap, but have so far been unable to source any 3SGEs nearby, and are recommending I scrap the car. Parts and labor, if they could fine a salvageable 3SGE, is pegged at between $1500-$2000. Ouch. Is it possible to swap for a more common engine like a 3SFE or lower? I may have one of these available in a boneyard and was wondering if going for a smaller engine would be a better compromise that ditching my GTS altogether. If not, it looks like my ST-162 days are over already ... :suicide
hey, i doubt that you'd have no compression at all. more details would be good, what was the wet compression? dry? it seems that timing is off... starter relay mod = must. especially in this cold weather and snow we've been having recently. it's just...a must, no if's and but's.
