Starter No Load Test

CAUTION: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Cautions and Notices.

1. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable from the battery.
2. Remove the starter motor assembly from the vehicle.




CAUTION: Keep fingers and tools away from the opening in the starter drive housing while performing the Starter No Load Test. The strong shifting action of the solenoid could cause personal injury or damage as the drive pinion moves into the cranking position and spins.

NOTE: Do not allow the solenoid pull-in current to flow for more than 15 seconds at a time. The windings can be damaged by overheating. Also, the current draw readings will decrease as the windings heat up.

3. Connect the test leads from the battery (4) and the ammeter (3) to the starter motor assembly.
4. Ensure that the following conditions are met:
^ The starter motor runs smoothly.
^ The pinion extends quickly and completely.
5. Measure the starter motor current draw. The standard starter motor current draw at 11 volts is as follows:
^ 60 Amps for manual transaxle equipped vehicles.
^ 50-75 Amps for automatic transaxle equipped vehicles.

Evaluation
Low free speed and high current draw indicates the following conditions:
^ Too much friction
The following conditions may cause too much friction:
^ Tight bushings
^ Worn bushings
^ Dirty bushings
^ A bend in the armature that allows the armature to drag.
^ Shorted armature
Inspect the shorted armature on a growler after disassembly.
^ Grounded armature or fields Inspect further after disassembly.

Failure to operate and high current draw indicates the following conditions:
^ A direct ground in the terminal or fields
^ Frozen bearings

Failure to operate and low or no current draw indicates the following conditions:
^ Open solenoid windings
^ Open field circuit
Inspect the field circuit by inspecting the internal connections after disassembly.
^ Open armature coils

Inspect the commutator for badly burned bars after disassembly.
^ Broken brush springs
^ Worn brushes
^ High insulation between the commutator bars
^ Other conditions that may prevent good contact between the brushes and the commutator

Low no-load speed and low current draw indicates the following conditions:
^ High internal resistance due to poor connections
^ Defective leads
^ Dirty commutator
^ Open solenoid windings
^ Open field circuit
Inspect the condition of the internal components after disassembly in order to find an open field circuit.
^ Open armature coils
Inspect the commutator for badly burned bars after disassembly.
^ Broken brush springs
^ Worn brushes
^ High insulation between the commutator bars or other conditions which may prevent contact between the brushes and the commutator

High free speed and high current draw indicate shorted fields.
^ If shorted fields are suspected, replace the field coil assembly.
^ Use a growler in order to inspect for shorted armature.

Rated current draw and no-load speed indicate the normal condition of the starter motor assembly.

If any of the above conditions are unsatisfactory, refer to Starter Motor Overhaul.