frustrated no charge

[dlecroy 2]

1988 257h - replaced battery...wont turn over but like 3 times even when hooked to my jeep with jumper cables....if someone could help please.... my grass is getting jungle like...thx

[wallfish 17,381]

Starter.

I'm going to guess a loose magnet inside the starter housing since that's what I found when an engine had those same symptoms.

Loose or dirty wire connections might cause that too.

[953 nut 57,417]

    First step for any electrical problem is to clean and tighten all electrical connections including grounds. To rule out any bad cables you can put the jumper cables directly on the starter and see if it spins over.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

  What he said!  And if I might add emphasis on the grounds!  Seems so many times that I got confused with wiring there was a bad ground involved!  You take if for granted and then your readings are wacko and THEN you find a bad ground is the cause of the weird readings!

[dlecroy 2]

This is what I'm working with....thx for help...

Starter been locking up for a bit...smacked it with a whatever was close by a few times..

[smoreau 658]

Bad disk in the starter solinoid. New starter is most likely your easy fix. Or you could take the solinoid apart and repair or replace the disk or terminals. 

[wallfish 17,381]

Whatever it is, pull the starter off and inspect it and bench test it.

Looks like it took some hits which could cause the loose magnet condition.

 

[roadapples 6,983]

      

[dlecroy 2]

wiring harness is a mess....removed starter and cleaned it with pb blaster....started right up.....unbelievable ..can't kill this horse...thanks for all the help.

[953 nut 57,417]

31 minutes ago, dlecroy said:

started right up.