While replacing the alternator with an Aspire one, it wont crank when turning key...

[nonamekid]

Maybe you can explain why if you go to a part store, or RockAuto, you will get a ribbed idler alternator for a 94 Aspire? Ribbed idler pulley too.

The idler pulley has nothing to do with the alternator. It is for the AC, which is ribbed. koRnhead is correct. Maybe there was some late 94s that had ribbed alternators, but all 94s that I have seen have had v-belts.

If the problem is not the starter, alternator, battery, or any of your wires, connections, or switches, your car is possessed.

[Larry Hampton]

your car is possessed.

Lovely......

[nonamekid]

Lovely......

Haha, I was kidding, but I have had alternators come right off the shop at the auto parts store that were bad. I have had also pieces that fail at the same time I do a swap. They worked before the swap, but not after.

Did you connect the little male spade terminal at the top of the starter to the positive battery terminal? This will activate the solenoid and activate the starter. If the ignition is on, the car should start. If this works, I would guess your ignition switch is acting up.

[Flyin4stroke]

Sounds like a dead batt. Your bad alternator killed your battery too many times.

[nonamekid]

The auto parts can check your battery, alternator, and starter.

[Movin]

This has got to be a record, almost 5 pages to find out why a starter doesn't crank!!!

[Larry Hampton]

The alternator wasn't bad, at first. It was covered in oil due to leaky front seals. I sprayed it with citrus cleaner and while it cleaned it, I guess I had a bearing going out. I tried to fix it but couldn't get it apart and then I dropped my good alternator off the blue car on the floor and cracked the rear case. I sent the front of the case to someone on here. I got the pretty new reman alternator and pretty new belt at PAP. W3ather has been going back and forth between 70 and 20 every few days and I have to work outside so I can't get acclimated to the cold and getting dark early sucks.

[Movin]

That bites, and I didn't mean to sound flippant but ...! wow ! When I get stuck fixing the Sno-Cat on the trail just to get back I use tarps that I carry to lay on. I cut fir or pine boughs to bungee a tarp over. This gives a bit of shelter. At home those 500 watt halogen lights can serve two purposes when it is cold.

Today about noon I did phone aid for a no start jeep wrangler 4.0 . It didn't crank, he said the lights stayed bright. No clicks he said. I had him gain access to the starter with jeep in neutral and chocked.He said it sparked a little when he jumped the big terminal to the little one. I told him to bang the starter with a hammer then try it again. This time it tried to crank then some smoke came out. Gotta love a smokenhammer diagnosis!!

You have all the advise you need already toward the diagnosis maybe some more ideas about how to keep warm during the time you have?

[drddan]

The idler pulley has nothing to do with the alternator. It is for the AC, which is ribbed. koRnhead is correct. Maybe there was some late 94s that had ribbed alternators, but all 94s that I have seen have had v-belts.

If the problem is not the starter, alternator, battery, or any of your wires, connections, or switches, your car is possessed.

Do you think there was a mid year change, like the small nose/large nose festy pulleys in late 92?

[nitrofarm]

The alternator wasn't bad, at first. It was covered in oil due to leaky front seals. I sprayed it with citrus cleaner and while it cleaned it, I guess I had a bearing going out. I tried to fix it but couldn't get it apart and then I dropped my good alternator off the blue car on the floor and cracked the rear case. I sent the front of the case to someone on here. I got the pretty new reman alternator and pretty new belt at PAP. W3ather has been going back and forth between 70 and 20 every few days and I have to work outside so I can't get acclimated to the cold and getting dark early sucks.

Now you know how your starter feels, has to work in all conditions kinda like the Post Man. If its any consolation Larry I just had to do my E350 starter Friday AM in my daughters driveway (temp was a sultry 10 deg). All I had to do was get it to turn over and start for the 5 hr ride home. Beat on that Beach for 5 min while someone held the key on. No Dice !

[Larry Hampton]

The older I get (47, be 48 in Feb) the harder it is to get used to the changing of the seasons. Once it's been cold for a while I'm okay but this bouncing back and forth....

I really need to get the garage cleaned out (really I need a SHOP!!!) so I can at least pull one car in to work on.

[Flyin4stroke]

I say battery because you said your starter turns when's you jump the solenoid on the starter but won't engage or kick the gear out of the starter. Usually this happens when you are low on voltage. Can't spin fast enough to kick the gear out. Batteries and starters do not like cold temps as we all know.

[nitrofarm]

The older I get (47, be 48 in Feb) the harder it is to get used to the changing of the seasons.

53 here Larry !

[Larry Hampton]

Okay, took off this afternoon to work on car.

Have headlights, nothing else. Checked all fuses.

No auto seatbelts, no blower motor. No flashers. No horn. No fuel pump kicking on when key turned, no dome light.

[Larry Hampton]

Maybe I should check the cartridge fuse base and wiring first. Easier to check than change computer. I've never done nitrofarm's cleaning on that.