won't start help
 

Hi,

'96 2WD auto. I had starting problems. It seemed that the batteries drained if I didn't take off the hot connectins every night, so I replaced the starter. Just as I was ready to replace the starter a clicking started coming from the pair of units bolted to my inner fender, driver's side at the same time the ASD relay clicked. I switched the ASD relay with one of the other 2 next to it in the relay box. No change. The units have 2 light wires and 2 heavier wires hooked to each of them. What are they? How do I read the codes? The clicking causes the antilock symbol and the BRAKE warning to flash on and off.

it's real cold and I'm laying on ice,
Mike

those are intake air heater relays, make sure you disconnect the ground cables when installing a starter.

Thanks BigIron70 and Bill,

One more question. My batteries are draining overnight. If I remove all of the wires to the positive post (including the feed to the relay box) except the main lead to the starter motor there is a small arc when I touch the positive cable to the positive post. What could be causing the arc?

Thanks,
Mike

Small arc is normal when first connecting the batteries, but after a few minutes there should be very little current, I forget the actual spec but it's in milliamps. If they are draining over night, common things are glovebox light, and seat belt control (might not apply to 96?) relay, aftermarket radio...etc.

I wonder if your ignition switch is sticking/bad, causing some/all contacts to close for ignition "on". Might explain the grid heater relays and dash lights kicking on?

I found my hood light was sticking on