I have a '98 Cobra which has given me very, very few problems (I bought it new)...but now I'm having starter problems in the past year. Last June I had to replace the starter - and just over the weekend the starter went again. My boyfriend works at an auto shop, so he took it in there and they confirmed it was the starter and replaced it...but he had a feeling that it was really "something else" that was causing the starter to go. The problem is - we can't find what that "something else" might be. He kept it at his shop an extra day to run other tests on it and couldn't find anything....finally just took it home, and of course last night when he went to re-start it (from home), it wouldn't start again. I know there are differences in SVTs, so I thought I'd throw it out there for anyone who might have ideas, or who might have run into a similar problem. Thank you!!!

 

Maybe the wiring is going bad. Thats what happend in my buddies 98 cobra.

 

I asked my boyfriend what he checked, and this is what he said: he Ohm'd out the wires, positive/negative cables, checked ground at the starter/frame, checked voltage drop across starter. 12 Volts at solenoid. swapped relays...."you name it". Everything is testing out ok.

 

Alot of people that get on here dont get on til later, but there is almost always someone that can help. Sorry, never had that problem.

 

Thanx, I will check back in the morning, it is my understanding that the PATS system cuts out fuel delivery? but will allow the engine to crank?? I am trying to rule anything out here. I am trying the spare key tomorrow to see if that matters.

12volts at the solenoid when cranking,12volts at the starter, 10 volts at the starter terminal after the solenoid when cranking, battery test shows over 500 CCA, 0 resistance when testing ground at engine block, frame, lower control arm and starter housing..basically I have a good ground everywhere. I even took a set of jumper cables and clamped the black lead on the starter bolt and the negative terminal to be sure I had a good ground there. The starter is brand new and it looks like the only option I have is to take it out and bench test it to make sure it is good. I just really don't want to deal with that top bolt..again.

BTW, this is the boyfriend.

 

This is pretty odd, what kind of starter are you replacing it with?

 

OCA, and yesI replaced the 4" of solenoid lead they give you to replace the section that may or may not have been corroded on the wiring harness.