Car won't start....

[Scarpozzi]

I started my car up tonight and went to a store. I ended up going inside for 5 minutes to pickup some wine. I got back in my car and turned the key....nothing happened.

The lights all lit up and everything seemed normal. The only thing that didn't work was no cranking by the starter. I'm assuming that something in the starter is jammed. My car only has about 6-7 inches of clearance under it so I jacked it up, but wasn't able to do much. I used a wrench to bang on the starter while someone tried turning the key and nohting happened.

It looks like a replacement starter is $170. I'm going to have to drive down tomorrow to work on it, but it looks like it's going to take a day or two to get a replacement starter since most places don't stock this one. What should I do here? Thanks...

 

[imported_Truenofan]

well, if its a stick, you can push start it. is it auto or stick? if the starter is shot/fried then your SOL unless its standard.

edit: finally loaded your car pics, its an auto.

 

[jagec]

You don't know it's the starter yet, although that's the most likely suspect. But it could be a short, a bad solenoid (do you hear any ticking when you try to crank?), or a number of other problems.
You could try running a (heavy-guage) cable directly to the starter, and seeing if it cranks at all.

Next time buy a stick.😉

 

[Scarpozzi]

True...It very well could be the solenoid. I may go ahead and replace it first and see what happens if they stock them. It's definitely something I should be able to swap without having to jack up my car and work on it in a random parking lot. 😛

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a starter relay for the thing at 10am when the autoparts store opened. I got back to my car and popped the hood and started looking through the relays. I'm not sure that the relay I got was the right one, so I thought....heck, I'll try to start it again.

It started right up.

I certainly hope I don't have a faulty relay in there that's only working 90% of the time. 😛 I've never had this kind of problem, but I'm also thinking that maybe the starter didn't disengage properly (motor quit cranking but the gear was still on the flywheel) and might have spun for a few miles?

 

[cardiac]

Scarpozzi, there is also a neutral-safety switch. If it doesn't start again, drop the gear selector down into neutral (Instead of park) and try and start it then. Of course, keep your foot on the brake..... I've replaced a few of these over the years......

Bob

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: cardiac
Scarpozzi, there is also a neutral-safety switch. If it doesn't start again, drop the gear selector down into neutral (Instead of park) and try and start it then. Of course, keep your foot on the brake..... I've replaced a few of these over the years......

Bob

Yeah, this happens on Jeeps a lot. Do you have a Ford? I was under the impression that the solenoid was integrated into the starter on 99% of cars. I know ford held onto their separate solenoid for quite a while after the rest of the automotive world had went to integrated solenoids, but not sure.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Originally posted by: cardiac
Scarpozzi, there is also a neutral-safety switch. If it doesn't start again, drop the gear selector down into neutral (Instead of park) and try and start it then. Of course, keep your foot on the brake..... I've replaced a few of these over the years......

Bob

Yeah, this happens on Jeeps a lot. Do you have a Ford? I was under the impression that the solenoid was integrated into the starter on 99% of cars. I know ford held onto their separate solenoid for quite a while after the rest of the automotive world had went to integrated solenoids, but not sure.

ha, my friend kept a particular rock next to his parking spot to "fix" the solenoid on his cougar.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
ha, my friend kept a particular rock next to his parking spot to "fix" the solenoid on his cougar.

Yeah, I had an '87 Corolla that had a brush problem on it's starter.

I kept an oak flooring board left over with the inscription "Starter Thwacker" and a graphic.

It worked until it was scrapped after a snow related wreck. (I was merely a passenger)

It helped that the Corolla was a MT and weighed ~ 2400 lbs, so push starting was always an option.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I haven't seen this problem since....the car started fine this morning, on my lunch break (twice), and on the way home. I'm kind of baffled, but gonna still keep an eye on it.

Thanks guys.

-Scar

 

[DaedalCipher]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Originally posted by: cardiac
Scarpozzi, there is also a neutral-safety switch. If it doesn't start again, drop the gear selector down into neutral (Instead of park) and try and start it then. Of course, keep your foot on the brake..... I've replaced a few of these over the years......

Bob

Yeah, this happens on Jeeps a lot. Do you have a Ford? I was under the impression that the solenoid was integrated into the starter on 99% of cars. I know ford held onto their separate solenoid for quite a while after the rest of the automotive world had went to integrated solenoids, but not sure.

This sounds like a likely culprit to me. hope it keeps working for ya

 

[Killrose]

Check battery cables and battery posts for corrosion and make sure they are tight. Make sure the ground cable is tight at frame ground. You could have a bad spot or worn commutator on the starter which is keeping the brushes from making good contact, usually found on high milage vehicles or you could have a bad starter solenoid.