92 Jetta Starter, Guru needed

The 92 Jetta has trouble starting. I have replaced the alternator because it was not testing well and may not have been fully charging the battery. This had no effect. With a fully charged battery, it starts fine. If I start it about 5 times in succession it will quit starting and all I get it a rapid clicking sound (solenoid?) although the battery still shows 11 volts or so. (when it does start, it starts right away, not a lot of cranking)

Replaced the starter and the same symptoms show.

Thought the starter might be starved of current so I cleaned up the ground contact on the block. Same symptoms!

What am I forgetting? Please let me know what else I should check.

Thanks for any help, David Abineri

Reply to
David Abineri
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Sounds like the battery or ignition switch. Try jumping the starter with a remote button, if it works fine that way then it's in the switch or the switch circuit (could be loose/corroded wires). HTH, ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

Reply to
ThaDriver

Did you have the battery tested? 11 volts isn't a fully charged battery. In the ideal world a fully charged battery is 12.6 volts, but anything above

12.2 is OK.
Reply to
Woodchuck

Reply to
Rob Guenther

David, Your forgetting the battery cables! They are all corroded and loosing lots of power. My son and I, also David with a 92 jetta, and I redid his 2 battery cables with new ones from NAPA. Get good quality ones, they're not too expensive. Then get a small guage welding cable at the farm store or the like with terminal ends to match and run a new lead from the alternator to the battery. Even when new that wire was not heavy enough to carry the current. Not to the starter like it is now. Your car will run better because the computer is getting the correct voltage and your headlights will even be brighter. As another poster said correct battery voltage is around 14 volts but with your cables it never getts fully charged.

JoBo

Reply to
Jo Bo

permanent start up device, make sure the button drives a contactor (a heavy duty relay designed to handle the high starter motor currents) which then in turn will provide power to the starter.

********* I was suggesting using a hand-held starter button *tool* to check the power going to the starter. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

Reply to
ThaDriver

Sounds like the first thing besides the alternator should be the battery. Doesnt sound like it will hold a charge well or handle a load. Probably a bad cell...

Reply to
Biz

Reply to
Rob Guenther

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