Tribute 4WD L4-2.3L (2005)
Starter Motor: Testing and Inspection
Starter Motor - Motor Feed Circuit
STARTER MOTOR - MOTOR FEED CIRCUIT
NOTE: Make all multimeter connections at the component terminal rather than the cable or wiring terminal.
1. Make sure the battery is fully charged. Carry out a battery load test For additional information, See CHARGING SYSTEM.
2. Disconnect the ignition coil connector.
3. Connect a remote starter switch between the starter solenoid S-terminal and the battery positive (+) post.
4. Connect the positive (+) lead of digital multimeter to the battery positive (+) post. Connect the negative (-) lead of the multimeter to the starter
solenoid M-terminal.
5. Engage the remote starter switch. Read and record the voltage. The multimeter reading should be 0.5 volt or less.
6. If the voltage reading is 0.5 volt or less, go to the Starter Motor - Ground Circuit Component Test.
7. 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 and repeat the test. If the voltage reading at the
B-terminal is lower than 0.5 volt, the concern is either in the connections at the starter solenoid or in the solenoid contacts.
8. Remove the cables at the starter solenoid B-, S-, and M-terminals. Clean the connections and install the cables. Repeat Steps 3 through 6 above. If
the reading is still higher than 0.5 volt at the M-terminal and 0.5 volt or lower at the B-terminal, the concern is the solenoid contacts. Install a new
starter motor.
9. If the voltage measured in Step 5 is greater than 0.5 volt, the concern is either the positive (+) battery cable connection or the positive (+) battery
cable itself. Clean the positive (+) battery cable connection. If this does not solve the problem, install a new positive battery cable.
