General Information

CAUTION: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Service Precautions.




1. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable from the battery.
2. Remove the starter motor assembly from the vehicle.

CAUTION: Keep fingers and tools away from the opening in the starter drive housing while performing the Starter No Load Test. The strong shifting action of the solenoid could cause personal injury or damage as the drive pinion moves into the cranking position and spins.

NOTE: Do not allow the solenoid pull-in current to flow for more than 15 seconds at a time. The windings can be damaged by overheating. Also, the current draw readings will decrease as the windings heat up.

3. Connect the test leads from the battery (4) and the ammeter (3) to the starter motor assembly.
4. Ensure that the following conditions are met:
^ The starter motor runs smoothly.
^ The pinion extends quickly and completely.
5. Measure the starter motor current draw. The standard starter motor current draw at 11 volts is as follows:
^ 60 Amps for manual transaxle equipped vehicles.
^ 50-75 Amps for automatic transaxle equipped vehicles.