To run the starter (with a good battery), connect a jumper wire from the
small push-on terminal on the solenoid to the + post on the battery (be sure
you're in Park, and, if you want the car to start, have the key On). If
this works, you have excessive resistance or discontinuity in the starter
circuit.
But it sounds as if you're having charging problems. Radio Shack sells a 3
LED voltmeter for $6.00 which plugi into the lighter socket, and will keep
you fully apprised of the system voltage at all times that it is firmly
seated in place (it can wiggle loose and give false low readings). It
sounds like your batteries weren't getting charged. But you should not try
to bring up a dead battery with the alternator, especially if the battery is
fairly new--you can burn up an alternator by making it charge at full output
for a long time. If you can't charge the battery first, do it in 15-minute
bursts with the alternator (all electrical accessories Off), then let the
alternator cool. Feel it with your hand.
I don't know the layout of the relay socket, but one large wire into it
should be hot all the time, and one smaller one should get hot with the key
in Start. If the latter doesn't happen, check the connections at the N-S
switch in the tranny (one wire to it should get hot with the key in Start).
Be sure the battery cables are clean and tight at all four ends, and that
the battery is good.
Good luck
Brian
At 02:08 AM 11/1/97 -0500, Tamara Saarinen wrote:
>the story-(it's the taxi peugeot)
>-which means we are not wholly responsible for any apparently insane
>activity, as #1 son owns car and taxi service....
>stranded a mile from home.....(where it has a garage and all acoutrements)
>all work performed with flashlights in someone's back parking
>lot..dismal...just dismal..
>
>operated erratically for awhile, lights dimmed, car died.....(last night)
>
>battery replaced, car started and ran (20 miles or so )
>
>operated erratically for awhile, lights dimmed, car died.....(again)
>
>3rd battery installed, car would not start at all.
>
>(are we having fun, or what???)
>
>battery #4 brought up to bat... replaced alternator & starter
>(with all 3 components known to be working)
>
>no soap, no suds, no foam... no start.
>
>electrical checks so far reveal
>
>starter solenoid isn't operating,
>
>starter relay isn't working(exchanged relay....still no operation)
>
>
>huh....
>
>the questions-
>
>
>How can we check for the break in power supply to the relay?
>
>
>
>additional info-
>
>hooking the battery ground strap tothe battery produces a small spark(ouch)
>indicating a short somewhere.....Related???
>
>and I was just beginning to think that no grease under our fingernails was
>rather pleasant.....
>
>
>any ideas or words of encouragement graciously accepted...
>
>tamara(the one who got us all into this mess with peugeots in the first
>place) and gene(the unsuspecting life partner to the above and father to
>the below)
>and matthew(the son and taximan, who may be wondering at this point what
>his father sees in that crazy woman and her french cars)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Brian Holm, Peugeotholm
Supplying parts for Peugeots only, since 1969
Plainfield, VT 802.454.7132 Fax 454.1310