Dx a starter issue

[DobbM]

Good fall afternoon.

I'm trying to figure out a starter issue. My first thought is that the grounding isn't good enough, thus a full circuit is not there. The negative battery terminal goes to the engine (head?, driver's side), then on the other side there's a 10-14 awg wire from the engine block to the frame at the front, passenger engine mounting block. That to me doesn't seem to be beefy enough to handle the current that deals with the starter motor, but rather for all the accessories. 

I can not see the top of the starter motor to confirm that the cable from the starter solenoid has a tight connection. 

Is there a larger engine to chassis/frame wire for grounding? A braided one or something?

[DobbM]

This is the front right (passenger) engine mount. Is the only grounding from the engine to the frame?

[1963r2]

From memory it is.

 

[Murder]

"beefy enough to handle the current that deals with the starter motor". It isn't and it doesn't. As you noted, the negative battery terminal is connected to the head or block of the engine by an appropriately sized cable. By virtue of being mechanicaly connected to the engine the starter is connected to a massive ground, thereby completing the circuit. The small cable you point out is not involved in that circuit. 

[Bob Preston]

What is the issue? Completely dead, just a click, cranking slowly…?

[mfg]

2 hours ago, Murder said:

"beefy enough to handle the current that deals with the starter motor". It isn't and it doesn't. As you noted, the negative battery terminal is connected to the head or block of the engine by an appropriately sized cable. By virtue of being mechanicaly connected to the engine the starter is connected to a massive ground, thereby completing the circuit. The small cable you point out is not involved in that circuit. 

Agreed… All I’d add is…. on 6V vehicles, which need all the ‘grounding’ they can get, the ground wire is sometimes relocated directly to a starter mounting bolt.

Of course, this would not apply to Avantis or any other 12V vehicle.

[Mark L]

Make sure all the cable terminals (battery to starter solenoid, starter solenoid to starter, and block to battery) are clean, free of corrosion, and tight. Make sure the face of the starter that contacts the transmission case and the mounting surface on the transmission case are also clean, as this interface is also part of the electrical circuit. This will require removing the starter to inspect and clean the contact surfaces.

Edited 13 minutes ago by Mark L
Removed my own stupid question. I thought I was still on the SDC Forum.