86 Berlinetta Won't Start

[86Lynette]

Here's my little prob. I haven't done too much research yet, but you guys are a wealth of knowledge and info, so I thought I'd ask you.

I have an 86 Berlinetta with a 2.8L V6, about a week or so ago, I got in and went to turn the key, nothing. Now having gone through this with my 92 Cougar, I left the key in the on position, and grabbed my handy long screwdriver, reached in and crossed the terminals and vrooom, started up. I figured, maybe it's the starter, maybe the solenoid is gettin tired, or something, on my cougar it turned out to be this little distribution block near the battery, as there is no solenoid on that starter.

Anyways, I go, get a new starter, swapped them out today, and nothing, same problem. I'm keeping the new starter in there cause it's obvious now the old one was on it's last legs. But if there are any other things to look for, or any areas that I need to check, connections, what-not, please, I can use the help.

This is my first official post here at 3GO, so TIA for any help, I look forward to a long and happy forum life here, as this 86 is gonna be with me forever.

[AeroSS-87]

what's a berlinetta?

sounds like a bad solenoid, but being a new starter, is not likely. I would bet it is in the column and/or ignition switch. possibly even a bad lock cylinder. regardless, when messing with wiring problems in an old car with starting issues, I would HIGHLY recommend changing the battery cables... as I did not do so and look what happened

http://www.angelfire.com/ne/AeroSS

[86Lynette]

LOL, the Berlinetta is my own personal Heaven/Hell. I love this car. I got a couple other leads to check, the ignition rod, and some other things. I just am sick of having Camaros that won't start when I turn the key. I've got a 79, again a Berlinetta, at least IT has a 305, that won't run either. Annoying is all I can say.

[MonteC]

that little "distribution block" on your cougar IS the solenoid.

call me crazy but have you check the battery?

[86Lynette]

Yeah, ok, I shoulda said that, I meant more like, remote, not starter mounted. And yeah, the battery is in alright shape, I'm gonna buy a new one.

I was workin on it earlier, and I had the car running, turned the key, just as a diagnostic tool, and it knocked the starter gear against the flywheel. So I shut the car off, turned the key, and boom, it started, so I shut it off again, to see if maybe I just got lucky, turned the key again, and it started a second time. I'm like, alright, so I shut the car off, start cleaning up a little, go to start the car to move it, nothing.

At this point I have a remote switch wired and mounted so I can just turn the car on from inside the cabin.

[MonteC]

you have a loose connection somewhere.

[86Lynette]

I figured, it'll take me a little time to track down, the weather here sucks balls right now, its raining today and tomorrow its likely to be 110 degrees.

Besides, I need to fix the tranny too, well, I'm pretty sure it's the torque convertor that's finally gone. But who knows. That's gonna be changed soon.

[MonteC]

theres a distribution block on thirdgens, its on the lower passengers side next to the radiator.
check there first, i had that happen to me one time, the distribution block was all corroded and rusted. i had to replace it and never had the problem again.

[llwood]

, the weather here sucks balls right now, its raining today and tomorrow its likely to be 110 degrees.

.and where in WA is this? The weather was weird when i lived there but ir rarely got warm at all