1991 Geo Storm will not start or crank

AnthonyStargate · 06-29-2008, 05:27 PM

Oooh weee, I had this problem last Sunday. The Storm started fine in the morning. In the evening, the engine would not start or even turn over.

I had the old starter tested at Checker Auto Parts and it was definitely weak. Plus the clerk could pull the bendix out half an inch and he said he should not be able to do that.

I installed a used starter from a junk yard. It lasted for 4 days. Now it's Sunday and I have the same problem. The engine does not crank. I just hear a soft whhirrrr-clunk sound that lasts for 2 seconds. When I tried to start it again, I did not hear that whirrr-clunk sound. When I removed the key and waited a few seconds, I did hear that whirrr-clunk sound. Is that the solenoid? The headlights work; the radio works. Oddly, the blower motor does not work. (Last Sunday, I pulled a 15 amp fuse labeled engine, and suddenly the blower motor came to life. I don't know why that would happen.)

Do you think the junk yard starter is dead? Or the solenoid? Could the problem be anything else?

Thank you for your help

AnthonyStargate · 06-29-2008, 10:20 PM

I took the starter out. Man, that starter is just shoehorned into the most difficult to reach spot.

First I bench tested the old starter. It did turn over, though it sounded weak. Then I bench tested the new starter (It's from a 1993 Storm, from a junk yard. It's not a rebuilt starter.) It turned over and it sounded strong.

Does this mean the solenoid is bad? The other possibilities I've read are a bad clutch switch (The car has a 5 speed transmission.) or a bad starter switch.

The hour grows late. To quote the Bard, "To sleep, perchance to dream."

AnthonyStargate · 06-30-2008, 01:57 PM

I ran a wire to the little wire that connects to the solenoid and watched the needle on my voltmeter while I turned the key to the start position. The needle did not budge; then I remembered this car has a clutch safety switch. I pushed the clutch pedal to the floor and then turned the key. The voltmeter needle jumped all the way past 10 volts. (The 10 volt setting on the meter is the only one that gets a result. The meter won't do anything if I turn the dial to the next highest setting.)

Then I ran a wire to the large wire that connects to the solenoid and tested it. The needle also spiked past 10 volts.

So the starter switch is working, the clutch safety switch is working and both of the wires that deliver voltage to the starter solenoid are sending enough voltage. So the most likely culprit is the solenoid. I'll take the starter to an auto shop this evening and get it tested. And it looks like I need another starter; I'll go with a rebuilt starter this time.

AnthonyStargate · 07-01-2008, 12:08 PM

I had the starter tested at a local auto parts store. The testing machine said the starter passed on voltage and current. The readings were:

_________Low__Actual___High
voltage___7.00__13.19___19.00
current__15.00__59.95__100.00

But those actual numbers are middle of the road. John, the parts clerk, said the machine can not test the starter under a load. Ooooh, that was a light bulb moment! So I figured the starter was strong enough to pass the test when it was not under a load, but not strong enough to turn the engine over.

I bought a rebuilt starter and installed it this morning. It's not possible turn the nut and bolt that hold the starter in place by hand, I had to use a socket and an extension. The nut fell out of the socket twice. Then I discovered a bit of paper towel around the nut would hold it snuggly in the socket. That was one less headache to deal with.

I put everything back together and it fired up! I learned that even though a starter might pass the machine test, look at the voltage and current. The starter might be too weak to actually turn the engine. And I learned don't buy a starter from a junk yard. It will certainly be used and may be almost worn out. A rebuilt starter is worth the extra money. (The junk yard starter has a 30 day warranty, so I can return it tomorrow.)

This one is solved

06-29-2008, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
AnthonyStargate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP service pack 2	1991 Geo Storm will not start or crank Oooh weee, I had this problem last Sunday. The Storm started fine in the morning. In the evening, the engine would not start or even turn over. I had the old starter tested at Checker Auto Parts and it was definitely weak. Plus the clerk could pull the bendix out half an inch and he said he should not be able to do that. I installed a used starter from a junk yard. It lasted for 4 days. Now it's Sunday and I have the same problem. The engine does not crank. I just hear a soft whhirrrr-clunk sound that lasts for 2 seconds. When I tried to start it again, I did not hear that whirrr-clunk sound. When I removed the key and waited a few seconds, I did hear that whirrr-clunk sound. Is that the solenoid? The headlights work; the radio works. Oddly, the blower motor does not work. (Last Sunday, I pulled a 15 amp fuse labeled engine, and suddenly the blower motor came to life. I don't know why that would happen.) Do you think the junk yard starter is dead? Or the solenoid? Could the problem be anything else? Thank you for your help

06-29-2008, 10:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
AnthonyStargate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP service pack 2	Re: 1991 Geo Storm will not start or crank I took the starter out. Man, that starter is just shoehorned into the most difficult to reach spot. First I bench tested the old starter. It did turn over, though it sounded weak. Then I bench tested the new starter (It's from a 1993 Storm, from a junk yard. It's not a rebuilt starter.) It turned over and it sounded strong. Does this mean the solenoid is bad? The other possibilities I've read are a bad clutch switch (The car has a 5 speed transmission.) or a bad starter switch. The hour grows late. To quote the Bard, "To sleep, perchance to dream."

06-30-2008, 01:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
AnthonyStargate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP service pack 2	Re: 1991 Geo Storm will not start or crank I ran a wire to the little wire that connects to the solenoid and watched the needle on my voltmeter while I turned the key to the start position. The needle did not budge; then I remembered this car has a clutch safety switch. I pushed the clutch pedal to the floor and then turned the key. The voltmeter needle jumped all the way past 10 volts. (The 10 volt setting on the meter is the only one that gets a result. The meter won't do anything if I turn the dial to the next highest setting.) Then I ran a wire to the large wire that connects to the solenoid and tested it. The needle also spiked past 10 volts. So the starter switch is working, the clutch safety switch is working and both of the wires that deliver voltage to the starter solenoid are sending enough voltage. So the most likely culprit is the solenoid. I'll take the starter to an auto shop this evening and get it tested. And it looks like I need another starter; I'll go with a rebuilt starter this time.

07-01-2008, 12:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
AnthonyStargate Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP service pack 2	Re: 1991 Geo Storm will not start or crank I had the starter tested at a local auto parts store. The testing machine said the starter passed on voltage and current. The readings were: _________Low__Actual___High voltage___7.00__13.19___19.00 current__15.00__59.95__100.00 But those actual numbers are middle of the road. John, the parts clerk, said the machine can not test the starter under a load. Ooooh, that was a light bulb moment! So I figured the starter was strong enough to pass the test when it was not under a load, but not strong enough to turn the engine over. I bought a rebuilt starter and installed it this morning. It's not possible turn the nut and bolt that hold the starter in place by hand, I had to use a socket and an extension. The nut fell out of the socket twice. Then I discovered a bit of paper towel around the nut would hold it snuggly in the socket. That was one less headache to deal with. I put everything back together and it fired up! I learned that even though a starter might pass the machine test, look at the voltage and current. The starter might be too weak to actually turn the engine. And I learned don't buy a starter from a junk yard. It will certainly be used and may be almost worn out. A rebuilt starter is worth the extra money. (The junk yard starter has a 30 day warranty, so I can return it tomorrow.) This one is solved