Starter Motor - Fails to Engage/Blows Fuse: Overview

VOLUME
1

GROUP
Electrical

NUMBER
002

MODEL
Sephia

DATE
August, 1998

SUBJECT:
Sephia Starter Circuit Modification

This bulletin provides information on the Sephia starter circuit. Some 1998 Sephia models produced before May 7, 1998 (A/T equipped vehicles) or May 2, 1998 (M/T equipped vehicles) may intermittently experience a condition where the starter motor fails to engage and blows the 15 amp START fuse. This condition is usually worse when the outside air temperature is high.

This condition is caused by excessive resistance in the starter solenoid circuit due to insufficient wire sizing of the starter solenoid wire. This causes the current to the starter solenoid pull-in winding to be too low for the starter solenoid to fully engage. If the key is held in the START position for an extended period of time, the 15 amp START fuse will blow.

On vehicles produced after the above production dates, the starter solenoid circuit wire size was increased to eliminate the high resistance condition.





Vehicles produced prior to the production change that experience an intermittent no start condition or blowing the 15 amp START fuse should install a relay kit in the engine compartment fuse/relay box. This kit consists of a relay, a 30 amp fuse and a sub-harness that is to be installed between the engine compartment fuse relay box and the starter.





Required Tools and Materials

Affected Production Range:

1998 Sephia models with production dates (VINs) prior to:

MANUAL TRANSMISSION: 5/2/98 (KNAFB1219W5753552)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: 5/7/98 (KNAFB1211W5754548)





Part Number Information





Warranty Information