Starter not starting.

[Biglay5150]

First off I have to tell you its not a Festiva but I thought I could find help here.
92 Escort GT (bp) auto.
Ever since I got the car I was just waiting for the starter to go, it just didnt sound right. So yesterday I got the call from my wife "the car wont start" so I jump in my car and haul butt down there. Checked all the usual stuff and it was fine. Jacked up the car and started it up with a screw driver and drove it home. I ordered a starter from napa $115.00. So today I took the starter out and took it to napa and had it tested just to see and picked up my new one. They said it wont test there tester says open circut so its bad. I came home and put the new starer in and ........nothing. So the question is.....
Is there a relay or breaker or link that could be bad. Where should I start looking? Anything will help cause Im lost. I need to get this thing back on the road cause the Jeep sucks fuel like it free and she drives 70 miles a day.
Thanks Bob

[jglutz]

What's with the screw driver? Did you short out the solenoid coil to get the starter to kick in?

Anyway....the starting circuit is simple....
Right from the battery to the key switch....no relays or fusible links.
From the key switch...the start line passes thru the P/N switch for ATX and thru the clutch switch for MTX....from there to the starter solenoid. That's it. Try sarting the car in nuetral if it's a ATX. Or finding the switch and jumping it out.

[KingFish]

You need to check for voltage @ the switch terminal on the starter. Put the cars front end on stands and use a volt meter. Put the pos side on the small connection and the neg on a known good ground. YOu should have 9 or more volts getting to the solinoid. If you do than check if you have 12v getting to the big contact. If you don't inspect the wire to the small one. If all looks good you need to check the relay and the fuse. If they are good you may have a bad switch.



PS cheak the batt and engine grounds aswell.