FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Starter Motor - Ground Circuit Test




Starter Motor - Ground Circuit Test

Component Test

A slow cranking condition can be caused by resistance in the ground or return portion of the cranking circuit. Check the voltage drop in the ground circuit as follows:

1. Connect a remote starter switch between starter solenoid C197B and the battery positive terminal.

2. Connect the Digital Multimeter positive lead to the starter motor housing (the connection must be clean and free of rust or grease). Connect the negative lead to the negative battery terminal.

3. Engage the remote starter switch and crank the engine. Read and record the voltage reading. The reading should be 0.5 volt or less.





4. If the voltage drop is greater than 0.5 volt, clean the negative cable connections at the battery, the body ground connections and the starter ground connection. Retest.

5. If the voltage drop is greater than 0.5 volt, install new battery cables. REFER to Battery Cables - 3.5L Ti-VCT . If the voltage reading is less than 0.5 volt and the engine still cranks slowly, install a new starter motor. REFER to Starter Motor - 3.5L Ti-VCT .