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Starter No-Load Test

WARNING: Keep fingers and tools away from opening in starter drive housing while performing test. The strong shifting action of solenoid could cause personal injury or damage as drive pinion moves into cranking position and spins.
CAUTION: DO NOT allow solenoid pull-in current to flow for more than 15 seconds at a time during testing, or damage to coil winding may result due to overheating.
NOTE: Perform SOLENOID PULL-IN & HOLD-IN TEST  before performing STARTER NO-LOAD TEST.
  1. Remove starter from vehicle. See STARTER  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Connect a jumper wire from negative battery post to starter housing. Connect test leads of an ammeter in series with starter motor and fully charged 12-volt battery as shown. See Fig 1 .
  2. Connect a jumper wire from solenoid battery terminal to solenoid terminal "S". Crank starter for maximum of 5 seconds. Starter drive pinion should extend quickly and completely. Starter should spin rapidly and smoothly. Monitor ammeter and read starter motor current draw. If current draw is not as specified, repair or replace starter. See STARTER SPECIFICATIONS  .
    NOTE: Current draw readings will decrease as windings heat up.
Fig 1: Starter No-Load Testing
G90J02254Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.