82 Rabbit Convertible AT -- Starting Problem...

In the infinite Wisdom of Midas Auto shop, they removed my rattling
heat shield over the starter when the did some exhaust work. Yesterday
I drove the car to work and now the starter doesn't work.

What I'm looking for is your thoughts on how to troubleshoot this. I'm
familiar with the heat soak problem and my car does not have a hot
start relay circuit added.

Here's what I know:

1) When you turn the key to the start position, you can hear a relay
clicking about once per second.
2) The voltage guage goes down to zero when I do this.
3) I left the car overnight in roughly 55-60 degress weather and it
still does not start.

So based on this, where do you think I should start? Where is the
fusable link for this circuit -- could that be the culprit?

Thanks for your help on this.

Mike

The sound you describe sounds to me like a low battery or starter solenoid .
I don't think its the battery. Well, Obviously something's fried or lose.
Troubleshoot it with your eyes. Check all the wiring by the starter. where
the heat shield was removed. The shielding may be burned off or peeling
from the heat , or the wires touching something. Also when the shield was
removed , he may of jarred a connection moving the wires around. If Loose
wire nuts . tighten it up.
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> In the infinite Wisdom of Midas Auto shop, they removed my rattling
> heat shield over the starter when the did some exhaust work. Yesterday
> I drove the car to work and now the starter doesn't work.
>
> What I'm looking for is your thoughts on how to troubleshoot this. I'm
> familiar with the heat soak problem and my car does not have a hot
> start relay circuit added.
>
> Here's what I know:
>
> 1) When you turn the key to the start position, you can hear a relay
> clicking about once per second.
> 2) The voltage guage goes down to zero when I do this.
> 3) I left the car overnight in roughly 55-60 degress weather and it
> still does not start.
>
> So based on this, where do you think I should start? Where is the
> fusable link for this circuit -- could that be the culprit?
>
> Thanks for your help on this.
>
> Mike
>