My Junx

This just started to happen like 2 days ago....Sometimes when I go to start my car it fires right up, but then other times I go to start it and it just sits there. I mean the starter doesn't even click or anything. Like today I was parked on perfectly flat ground and had to push my car by myself until I was rolling fast enough to Roll-start it...in the rain This sucks. Do you think it is just a loose wire to the starter? I'll check all teh wires tomorrow, might even rewire the whole starting circuit.
Who agrees with me that it is prolly just a loose wire? I think it is the little line that runs from the ignition switch down to the starter. I think the battery feed line and ground are in fine condition, but I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

hypntyz7

Hey,

It is possible that in rain and driving some of my wiring has come loose or gotten bad connections. It would be simple for you to check. IF you have a voltmeter, the next time you have a problem, clip one lead to ground(tranny or starter body)_ and the other lead to the small terminal on top of the starter, and turn the switch to see if you get any power. IF not the wire is bad or loose. IF so it might be the starter going flaky, in which case I have plenty more.

IF you find there isnt power alway sgetting to the starter, find that wire we ran tot eh ignition, and trace it to the big thick black/red wire and be sure its gettting contact there well. IF it is, there could be a problem with the ignition switch, but its unlikely. ALso, you might wanna go back behind me and put a grommet over that wire through the firewall, or drill out teh speedo grommet and run it through there. I was in a hurry that day and didnt do it as well as I could have.

Let me know what you find, and Ill help you however I can.

Hey, I heard there's some other guy up there in your area whith mad shifting skillz who shoots flames like a ****, watch out for him

My Junx

Yeah, I'm thining it is that little wire. I'ma chack it in teh morning.

MasteRX

Sometimes when starters get old, you have to hit them with a hammer to get it to work. I had a starter start to go bad and it did that. So I would keep a hammer handy and would reach under and give it a couple hits when it wouldn't do anything. Then it would start right up. I eventually got a new starter and the problem was no longer.

My Junx

yeah it's not the starter pinion getting jammed (the problem that is cured by smacking it with a hammer) Because when that happens the started makes a click sound and then stops. This just does nothing as if it has no power getting to it. Wireing is my prime suspect, I think.

MasteRX

Not necessarily. Mine would make no noise whatsoever. I dont think that it has to be the pinion getting stuck, I think sometimes it has to do with the motor brushes making proper contact internally. You might give it a try (if your wiring looks good).

Josepi

There are 2 parts to the starter:
Solenoid
Motor

The solenoid is the clicking
The motor is the turning

The solenoid pushes a gear forward to the flywheel and the motor turns it. Check for voltage at both. Check for voltage to the motor when someone is turning the key, or you are making a connection (try not to shock yourself).

Don't forget, that for the small amount of time it would take, remove the starter and take it to advance auto (they'll test your starter for free), if it's not your starter, it could be your battery.

ianbell

Bad starter - worn brushes in the motor - sometimes they make contact, sometimes they don't - I got a used starter from the wrecking yard and it has worked fine for almost two years now.

Samps

The flat piece that conects the hot and ground when you turn the key will eventually wear down after so many starts. It just pushes up against the two lil domed shaped contacts over and over again untill it wears enough away that the flat piece can no longer reach the two dome shaped contacts. This usually means a new solenoid. When the actual starter motor goes bad it will most likely never start again. The solenoid is what would make it start sometimes, and not start sometimes. I tried to just buy a solenoid but no parts store would sell it to me; so I took one off of my old automatic stater and it fit perfectly and works wonders. The dealer would probably sell you just the slenoid but it might cost more than a whole new starter at some parts store near you. It could be loose wiring but the hot and ground leads are preaty tough to come loose since they are bolted on. But the lil ignition wire could be loose or even just slimmed up with so much dirt that it does not make good contact. I would check the lil ignition wire first; and if that does not solve your probblem take out the starter and run power and ground directly from the battery to the starter and see if it kicks. Don't run it for more than a few seconds or you will burn it up.