Summary: if you hear a single, loud click when you try to start your LC, but the starter doesn't seem to turn at all, then clean all your positive connectors at the battery and both ends of your grounding straps before going any further.
I've never run into a problem like this before. With 253k miles on the clock, the starter had been working great. I hopped in to drive somewhere and... *click*. Nothing else, just a loud click. No slow-turning engine, no repeated clicks, nothing.
I figured the starter brushes were shot and was just thankful that it happened in the driveway. Knowing it would take awhile to order parts and rebuild it, I ordered a rebuilt Denso from Rockauto.
Today, I installed the replacement, cleaned the power and trigger wire connections with DeOxit, hopped in and... *click*. The same exact behavior!
I read various threads here, most of which indicated a problem with the trigger wire. I jumped it directly and just got the same click. No spinning, nothing. I verified that I was getting 12V to the starter, and checked the voltage when the ignition was turned to 'start' (oddly, it only dropped to about 11.9V). I even put a 30mm wrench on the crank to verify that the engine hadn't somehow seized!
On a whim, I decided to check and clean my grounds. I used DeOxit and a brass bristle brush. While I was in the area, I took the nut off the positive battery post and cleaned up all the terminals connecting to it. There was a fair amount of corrosion and/or gunk there.
I tried directly powering the trigger wire again and it worked! I plugged the trigger wire connector back, hit the ignition, and it started right up.
I still have no idea how this could happen. The starter behavior was consistent and strong. It's like the corrosion crossed some magical barrier beyond which the starter wouldn't work! At least now I have a spare starter, plus the old starter, despite having brushes in good condition, had a surprising amount of corrosion inside.
I've never run into a problem like this before. With 253k miles on the clock, the starter had been working great. I hopped in to drive somewhere and... *click*. Nothing else, just a loud click. No slow-turning engine, no repeated clicks, nothing.
I figured the starter brushes were shot and was just thankful that it happened in the driveway. Knowing it would take awhile to order parts and rebuild it, I ordered a rebuilt Denso from Rockauto.
Today, I installed the replacement, cleaned the power and trigger wire connections with DeOxit, hopped in and... *click*. The same exact behavior!
I read various threads here, most of which indicated a problem with the trigger wire. I jumped it directly and just got the same click. No spinning, nothing. I verified that I was getting 12V to the starter, and checked the voltage when the ignition was turned to 'start' (oddly, it only dropped to about 11.9V). I even put a 30mm wrench on the crank to verify that the engine hadn't somehow seized!
On a whim, I decided to check and clean my grounds. I used DeOxit and a brass bristle brush. While I was in the area, I took the nut off the positive battery post and cleaned up all the terminals connecting to it. There was a fair amount of corrosion and/or gunk there.
I tried directly powering the trigger wire again and it worked! I plugged the trigger wire connector back, hit the ignition, and it started right up.
I still have no idea how this could happen. The starter behavior was consistent and strong. It's like the corrosion crossed some magical barrier beyond which the starter wouldn't work! At least now I have a spare starter, plus the old starter, despite having brushes in good condition, had a surprising amount of corrosion inside.