Starter Motor - Positive Circuit Test

Starter Motor - Positive Circuit Test

Component Test

WARNING: Always disconnect the battery ground cable at the battery before disconnecting the starter motor battery terminal lead. If a tool is shorted at the starter motor battery terminal, the tool can quickly heat enough to cause a skin burn. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: Always make the Digital Multimeter connection at the component terminal rather than at the wiring end of the connector. Making a connection at the wiring end of the connector could result in false readings because the meter will not pick up a high resistance between the wiring connector and component.

1. Make sure the battery is fully charged; carry out a battery drain test. REFER to Battery Drain Test Component Tests and General Diagnostics.

2. Connect a remote starter switch between starter solenoid" S" terminal C197B and the battery positive terminal.

3. Connect the Digital Multimeter positive lead to the battery positive post. Connect the negative lead to the starter solenoid "M" terminal.






4. Engage the remote starter switch. Read and record the voltage. The voltage reading should be 0.5 volt or less.

5. If the voltage reading is 0.5 volt or less, go to the starter motor-ground circuit component test Starter Motor - Ground Circuit Test.


6. If the voltage reading is greater than 0.5 volt, this is an indication of excessive resistance in the connections, the positive battery cable or in the starter solenoid. Move the Digital Multimeter negative lead to the starter solenoid" B" terminal C197A and repeat the test. If the voltage reading at C197A is lower than 0.5 volt, the concern is either in the connections at the starter solenoid or in the solenoid contacts.

7. Remove the cables from solenoid C197A, C197B and "M" terminal. Clean the cables and connections and reinstall the cables to the correct terminals. Repeat Steps 3 through 6. If the voltage drop reading is still greater than 0.5 volt when checked at the "M" terminal or less than 0.5 volt when checked at C197A, the concern is in the solenoid contacts. Install a new starter motor. REFER to Starter Motor - 3.5L Ti-VCT .

8. If the voltage reading taken at the solenoid C197A is still greater than 0.5 volt after cleaning the cables and connections at the solenoid, the concern is either in the positive battery cable connection or in the positive battery cable itself.

9. Clean the positive battery cable connection. If this does not solve the problem, install new battery cables. REFER to Battery Cables - 3.5L Ti-VCT .