Car Gurus: Car won't start...starter?

[axelfox]

The first time I start my car for the day, it won't start. The first couple of times this has happened, the second turn of the key usually gets the car started.

I've been out of town for the past couple of days, and the first time I start my car when I get, it won't start. I turn it a couple of times, but I just get the clicks and the dashboard lights coming on.

I wait a couple of minutes, go back out. Won't start the first time, but then it starts on the second or third time.

I was thinking it was the battery, but that battery is less than 1 year old. However, the car hasn't been driven in almost 5 days previous to yesterday. The only other thing I could think of is the starter.

Any suggestions as to what it could be? I'd like to get it fixed before I go back to school.

thanks

EDIT: Its a 94 Dodge Caravan

 

[ohtwell]

Sounds like the starter to me.

I also had a problem like that when my ignition switch was going bad.




: ) Amanda

 

[MajesticMoose]

sounds like you're not getting enough juice if you do hear a clicking when you turn the key and it doesn't start. Start by cleaning the terminals with a wire brush (better yet, a terminal brush) and see if that fixes your problem. After that check your battery if it doesn't go away. You can get them tested for free at a lot of places

 

[speed01]

What kind of car is it?? Sounds like the starter selonoid to me.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: speed01
What kind of car is it?? Sounds like the starter selonoid to me.

Yeah, or a flat spot on the gears.

Either way, you would need a new starter.

amish

 

[d33pt]

i think it's your battery wiring. first thing you should do is clean the posts with baking soda/water solution and make sure there's a good connection.. almost willing to bet it will fire right up.. if not, try whacking the starter a couple of times...

 

[bmacd]

Start with the most simple things first....get a multimeter (measures voltage) and set it to 20v DC. Then, pop it on your battery posts (or use your chassis for the ground...aka negative) and you should get at least a reading of 12v with no electrical loads running. After you get your car started, you should have mid 13s (depending on your electical load...AC, stereo, lights...)

-=bmacd=-

 

[oneeighty]

Exact same thing happened w/my '94 Integra in April. Turns out it was just the starter electrical contacts that needed to be replaced. Cost: $21 part + $120 labor.

In my case, the problem gradually got worse over a period of months to the point where I had to turn the key 100+ times before it start. Also, the problem is worse when the car sits for a period of time; like in the morning or getting back into town.

I had to call around town to at least 6 different shops before I found one that was competent enough to know exactly what was wrong on the phone. Everybody else wanted to straight-up replace the starter; dealership wanted $680 and the indi's wanted $300-500.

Explained w/pics:
Starter Contact Replacment

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: oneeighty
I had to call around town to at least 6 different shops before I found one that was competent enough to know exactly what was wrong on the phone. Everybody else wanted to straight-up replace the starter; dealership wanted $680 and the indi's wanted $300-500.

It is not that they are not competent enough to do it over the phone. They don't make money off of your phone call. If it was something else then they will do that work which may cost more or less depending onb the problem. They do that so they don't spend time on the phone diagnosing your problem only to have you buy the parts at the cheapest place in town and doing the work yourself.

 

[Vic]

When asking for help with car trouble, you should always be helpful and tell us the year, make, and model of the car. Just a helpful tidbit.

As for your problem, my money is on faulty ignition switch.

 

[oneeighty]

yakko,

I called the other places back to compare prices on labor for contact replacment and none of them would do it, not even the dealership.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: oneeighty
Exact same thing happened w/my '94 Integra in April. Turns out it was just the starter electrical contacts that needed to be replaced. Cost: $21 part + $120 labor.

In my case, the problem will gradually got worse over a period of months to the point where I had to turn the key 100+ times before it start. Also, the problem is worse when the car sits for a period of time; like in the morning or getting back into town.

I had to call around town to at least 6 different shops before I found one that was competent enough to know exactly what was wrong on the phone. Everybody else wanted to straight-up replace the starter; dealership wanted $680 and the indi's wanted $300-500.

Explained w/pics:
Starter Contact Replacment

That's ludicrous for a starter, To get a rebuilt one it was $50 and it rook me 3 hours to replace including the time it took to get it up and down off the jack stands.

 

[axelfox]

its a 94 dodge caravan

 

[T2T III]

Hmm... this problem is a little perplexing. However, I have a '96 Dodge and assume that some of the component layouts are similar. A few weeks back, my car would not start. Under the hood, there is a fuse box and one (a 20 amp fuse) was related to the ignition system. I replaced the fuse and then I was able to start my car. But, after a week, my car started to experience the same issue that you described - it wouldn't start on the first attempt, but would finally start at one of the later attempts. Keep in mind that my battery was 6.5 years old, so I brought it to the auto parts store to have it tested. Sure enough, the tester indicator indicated "replace". I put a new battery in and things have been fine ever since.

Even though you just replaced the battery a year ago, maybe one of the cells inside it is going bad. You should still take your battery to an auto parts store to get it checked. If it needs replacing, your old battery should have some kind of pro-rated warranty and being only a year old, you should get most of what you paid for it - if it needs replacing. The other suggestions are also good ones. You might want to check you connections on your starter and ensure that they are not corroded. (Note: Remember to disconnect the negative battery connection before performing any electrical work on your car to prevent shorting.)

 

[PowerEngineer]

I agree with WJE (and others) that the battery or its connections are the most likely suspects -- even if the battery was replaced last year (especially if it was a cheap battery and you live in hot or cold climate). If that's not it, I'd check the alternator/regulator as it could be that the battery is not being fully charged. You might also look for some sort of short circuit in the wiring harness that might be draining the battery while the car sits overnight. It could be the starter or the solenoid, but I think these are unlikely. Good luck!