Hey Guys,

I am stuck at work and my car won't start (tried it at lunchtime). How do you jump start a starter? Do I just run a hot wire to the starter, and make sure the starter is grounded?

Last week my car got some work done on it due to getting a tank full of bad gas. When they were first diagnosing the problem, the shop was messing with the wiring, and I think they probably knocked something loose. I have power for all else but starter is not working, cold or hot. I do not think it will be more than changing a few wires, but I am a long way from my garage. If you could please advise sometime before 6:00 Eastern, I would be greatly indebted to you.

If you're referring to your Camaro, or another car with an exposed solenoid on the starter, just use a screwdriver or other conductive object to jump the main power lug to the other terminal on the solenoid.

Yup, if it's your Camaro, jump from the large stud with the battery cable connected to it to the smaller stud on the side of the solenoid nearest the engine block. From the factory, the inside stud would have a heavy purple wire on it.

Good Luck,

Paul D.

Make sure your neutral safety / park switch is not the culprit..
Once I had my shifter in between park and reverse and did not notice it... I tried to start the car with no success. I figure.. hey, I'm a mechanic.. I can handle this, and stretched a coathanger accross the starter terminals with the key in the on position. The car started right up... If the shifter dropped, I could have killed someone...

Thanks Y'all.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the quick help. I will try it when I get done workin for the man.

Originally posted by 68ragtop:
...stretched a coathanger accross the starter terminals ... If the shifter dropped, I could have killed someone... Good advice John. Sometimes we get our heads wrapped so far around a problem that we forget little things like this. I could see myself doing the same thing.

-dnult

While we are on the subject of dumb stuff by smart people. I was showing my 9 year old daughter how to hook the cables to the battery. red positve, black negative. We are both standing over it of course when I notice the plastic on the cables melting and smoking! It was a new purchase and the former owner had a red cable for the ground. Thank God it didnt blow in her face I would never forgive myself for forgetting the basics. :(
"heres your sign"
Pat

Often you can get a balky starter to spin by tapping on it while someone else holds the key in the start position.
David