1995 Geo Prizm having odd starting problems

[KingNothing]

Most of the time this happens when I go to first start the car in the morning, although it will also happen during the day when the car has been sitting for a while.

I get in, I put the clutch down, and I turn the key. I get a click. If I keep the key in the start position and repeatedly press the clutch I get a click each time. After 7 or 8 times the car starts.

I took it to a mechanic who thought it was the neutral safety switch, so that was replaced but it's still doing the same thing. Any thoughts?

 

[Kevin]

Friend's don't let friends drive Geos

Althought I think the Prizm is a Corolla?...

 

[BooneRebel]

You have a 1995 Geo that still starts? That -is- odd...

 

[The Stigenator]

lets go teh basics..
disabled alarm (if it auto reneabled), starter relay could be goign bad or the clutch interlock isnt working as it should. The clutch interlock is to see if the clutch is depressed, maybe its not getting that info.

most repair places replace first then see if problem is still there (making money this way is easier than trying to find what the actual problem is). Anyway take it to a guy who knows what's up.. i hate repair mechanics that replace first and hope the problem goes away. Had toyota found the problem a long time back I might still have that car.

 

[shiner]

Have you checked the squirrel? I bet you're just trying to start it without waking him first.

 

[KingNothing]

To the idiots: A Geo Prizm is the same car as the renowned Toyota Corolla, so suck it.

To the_good_guy:

I don't have an alarm.
Is the clutch-interlock the same thing as the neutral safety switch?
Do you think I'd be better off taking it to the dealer?

 

Possible bad starter relay contacts, battery connections/grounds, ignition switch.

Go out, buy a Haynes repair manual and follow the steps in the diagnostic section.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
To the idiots: A Geo Prizm is the same car as the renowned Toyota Corolla, so suck it.

To the_good_guy:

I don't have an alarm.
Is the clutch-interlock the same thing as the neutral safety switch?
Do you think I'd be better off taking it to the dealer?

This sucks, have you compared the resale value of a Prizm and Corolla?

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: kevin000

Originally posted by: KingNothing
To the idiots: A Geo Prizm is the same car as the renowned Toyota Corolla, so suck it.

To the_good_guy:

I don't have an alarm.
Is the clutch-interlock the same thing as the neutral safety switch?
Do you think I'd be better off taking it to the dealer?

This sucks, have you compared the resale value of a Prizm and Corolla?

Yep. When I bought my car a year ago there was a 95 Corolla sitting opposite from it, same everything, 5000 more miles, dealer was asking $1500 more. So I bought the Prizm. I'm intending to drive it until it dies.

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: kevin000

Originally posted by: KingNothing
To the idiots: A Geo Prizm is the same car as the renowned Toyota Corolla, so suck it.

To the_good_guy:

I don't have an alarm.
Is the clutch-interlock the same thing as the neutral safety switch?
Do you think I'd be better off taking it to the dealer?

This sucks, have you compared the resale value of a Prizm and Corolla?

Yep. When I bought my car a year ago there was a 95 Corolla sitting opposite from it, same everything, 5000 more miles, dealer was asking $1500 more. So I bought the Prizm. I'm intending to drive it until it dies.

driving until it dies is the only way to own a car. I'd rather put money into repairs every once and awhile rather than have a $250-300 pmt.

 

[SpongeBob]

Originally posted by: kevin000

Originally posted by: KingNothing
To the idiots: A Geo Prizm is the same car as the renowned Toyota Corolla, so suck it.

To the_good_guy:

I don't have an alarm.
Is the clutch-interlock the same thing as the neutral safety switch?
Do you think I'd be better off taking it to the dealer?

This sucks, have you compared the resale value of a Prizm and Corolla?

That's funny, I just sold my '91 Geo Prizm with 120,000 miles in March for $2100. It sold the first day I put it up for sale. I'd say that's pretty damn good for a car I paid $3000 for in 1996.

 

[Vette73]

The Prizm is one of the best cars on the road. I think it was ranked the highest in reliability one year.

But what you need to do is see if the starter is getting a signal to the solenoid. Have someone crank the car and have a tester hooked to the switch on the solenoid and see if it is getting a signal, if it is then you probable have a bad starter, if the signal is very weak or not there then you will need to back trace the system and see if it is the lock cylinder, ignition switch, clutch system, etc? is not doing its job.

If you think it is the starter than take it off and take it to autozone and they can bench test it for free.

 

[KrustyVT]

I have a '94 Prizm that did the exact same thing 3 years ago. They wound up replacing the starter, and all has been well since then.

She's got 115k on her, and still running strong. She's not glamorous, but she'll get you there.

-=K=-

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: BooneRebel
You have a 1995 Geo that still starts? That -is- odd...

I have a 1995 Geo Prizm LSI. hands down the most reliable car i have ever owned. it has 140K miles on it and has never been in the shop.

Last month i had to replace my starter on my 1995 GMC truck. it was doing the exact samething as what your Geo is doing. just a click when you turn the key.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: BooneRebel
You have a 1995 Geo that still starts? That -is- odd...

I have a 1995 Geo Prizm LSI. hands down the most reliable car i have ever owned. it has 140K miles on it and has never been in the shop.

You have my car!! Mine's "misty teal mica" though, what color's yours?

I hope it is just a bad starter...

 

[OutHouse]

Blue 4 door, auto, A/C, Cruise, am/fm radio, manual windows and door locks.

 

[Vette73]

Its most likely a starter problem.

You can get one from Autozone for $99, just take them your old one so you don't have to pay the core charge.

My mom also had a Prizm and when something like this started (hers was also a Manual) it was the starter, not to hard.

 

[LAUST]

Roger has a good point, contacts, I had a 1995 Prizm, my sister has a 93 Camry and my dad has had 3 Cressada's, all 5 cars needed to have the ground unbolted and wirebrushed at around 130K miles... almost all 5 were within the 130K range, my sisters car never seeing salt water made it to just over 160K but it was the same case.

Electrical contacts are a pain and can be the root of ALL evil.

 

[duke]

Have the same car/year/5 spd with the exact same problem two years ago. Replaced the starter and was well since.

 

[LAUST]

Most New starters come with the sylinoid now as 1 part, on that it has new contacts no? It's free to atleast try those right?

For free go out and do the ground to the block contact and the one's on the starter (hell I can go out and do that in my underwear in 10 minutes in a blizzard it's so easy) , if it don't work bummer you lost 10 minutes of your time from your Nothing kingdom... then spend the $99, if it does work you can now be King$99

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Roger
Possible bad starter relay contacts, battery connections/grounds, ignition switch.

Go out, buy a Haynes repair manual and follow the steps in the diagnostic section.

I agree with Roger. I know jack sh!t about car repair but did have a 1994 Toyota Corolla DX (Geo Prizm = Toyota Corolla) which had this exact same problem. My trusted car mechanic friend rebuilt the starter, he showed me the starter relay contacts (I think that's what it's called) and it was wafer thin when it's supposed to be thick not thin. Cost me roughly $130 parts plus labor. Car ran just fine after that.

 

[KingNothing]

I had my car in to a mechanic and they confirmed that the starter did need to be replaced, then offered to do it for $230 (part) + $67 (labor). I told them I would bring a starter in ($99 from Autozone thanks to this thread) so hopefully that'll take care of it. The one from Autozone even has a lifetime warranty whereas theirs has a 3-year warranty.

There isn't anything better about the $230 starter over the $99 starter, is there? I mean, with a lifetime warranty I could have a replacement starter installed two more times and come out even.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I had my car in to a mechanic and they confirmed that the starter did need to be replaced, then offered to do it for $230 (part) + $67 (labor). I told them I would bring a starter in ($99 from Autozone thanks to this thread) so hopefully that'll take care of it. The one from Autozone even has a lifetime warranty whereas theirs has a 3-year warranty.

There isn't anything better about the $230 starter over the $99 starter, is there? I mean, with a lifetime warranty I could have a replacement starter installed two more times and come out even.

The Jap. parts at Autozone are very good. I have only had one go bad in the first year, and I have used a lot of their starters and Alt's so don't worry. None of my customers mind and I back my labor up with a 30 day warrenty and tell them about the warrenty on the part.
And the warrenty will allow you to exchnage it anytime you want as long as it is bad and not covered in oil or something else.

 

[laFiera]

i also have a 95 geo prizm;
127k miles in it and still going; of course it helps that i had a friend that was a mechanic and at 60k mile he gave it a nice tune up and the same at 110k mile; the ac just went out but since winter is coming, not gonna mess with that til next summer; yeah, i want to drive this car til it dies; you go to third world countries and they are still driving 1970's cars; i agree, better pay for some repairs than have those car payments; i'm hoping this geo goes til 2005....

 

[dan anderson]

tks for the info.my prism has 248,000 miles and is still running strong.i will try a new starter

I am glad everything worked out for you. But in the future we'd appreciate it if you didn't bump 12 year old threads.
-ViRGE
Sr. Mod