whats wrong with my car

[Conflict]

Ok, so I turn the key to start her up, nothing no noise, as if there was no engine, seems like battery is dead, no click or anything. So we change out the starter, then it happens again. We changed the battery about 2 months ago before the starter. So maybe its battery/altenator. We check the battery and it's giving enough juice, and the altenator is charging it. This happens randomly, sometimes i'll turn the key and it won't start but 2sec later it will. Sometimes it won't start for an hr. It's not the battery because the radio and lights work fine. WTF is wrong with my car?

 

[Willoughbyva]

Could be the ignition switch. Loose/short wire.

Thats all I could think of for now.

Will

 

[Thegonagle]

Next time it happens, whack the starter with a big hammer. If it starts right up after that, replace the starter.

This advice applies to most cars. Some cars (like some Fords, for example) have a seperate starter relay which should be checked first, but on most cars, the relay is intergral with the starter solonoid. (The soloniod is the electromagnet that engages the starter gear with the flywheel.)

 

[ohtwell]

It could be the ignition switch? It could be broken or maybe your key has become worn down and the switch isn't reading that it's in the ignition.


: ) Amanda

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Next time it happens, whack the starter with a big hammer. If it starts right up after that, replace the starter.

This advice applies to most cars. Some cars (like some Fords, for example) have a seperate starter relay which should be checked first, but on most cars, the relay is intergral with the starter solonoid. (The soloniod is the electromagnet that engages the starter gear with the flywheel.)

In highschool I worked at my dad's service station. I swear I started as many cars with a hammer as with jumper cables

I'm not sure that's the problem here, he said the starter is new, so ...

What kind of car?

Any alarm system?

When you say you turn the key it wont start... what happens when you turn the key? If it's *absolutly* nothing, it could very well be as Willo said.

 

[Ornery]

Could be the relay, though that was probably replaced along with the starter (depending what kind of car it is). See if you can jump past it with a screwdriver. If that works, replace it.

Edit: Try This

 

[BAMAVOO]

Could be the wire to the starter has a loose screw at the starter....


<<<Knows from experience..

 

[Thegonagle]

I know the starter has been replaced, but many rebuilt starters and alternators fail early. So give my suggestion a whack!

 

[Zenmervolt]

If you have an automatic transmission, try putting it in neutral instead of park when this happens. Sometimes the switch in the transmission goes bad and the car thinks it's in gear so it won't start. It's definitely worth checking the park-start interlock switch (or whatever the manufacturer calls it). Not an uncommon failure.

ZV

 

[Ornery]

"Not an uncommon failure"

I've owned a lot of cars, and most of them pretty damn old, but I've NEVER had one of those switches go, but by golly, I bet that's the problem in this case... GOOD CALL!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"Not an uncommon failure"

I've owned a lot of cars, and most of them pretty damn old, but I've NEVER had one of those switches go, but by golly, I bet that's the problem in this case... GOOD CALL!

Yeah, it's not exactly common either. Somewhere between common and uncommon. Thought I'd throw it in since it's fairly easy to test. The one in my Honda's been flaky for a long time, I just put it in Neutral and drive off when it acts up. One of the nice things about having a car that was built before the stupid "brake-park interlock" system became mandatory. I hate the new cars that won't let you shift out of Park without having your foot on the brake.

ZV

 

[Conflict]

This is a '87 Oldsmobile Ninetey-Eight Regency 3.8L, anyways, the key works fine, when the key is in on postiton, A/C blows fine radio works fine etc etc. I'll try whacking the starter next time. No alarm. I've tried running it through Park and Neutral, letting the car roll back a little, never helped. thx so far

 

[Ornery]

When you replaced the starter, did you also replace the solenoid/relay? Whacking it with a hammer is ultimately going to be jarring that component to get it to "kick in". It's only about $15.00, so you may as well grab one.

 

[Conflict]

Originally posted by: Ornery
When you replaced the starter, did you also replace the solenoid/relay? Whacking it with a hammer is ultimately going to be jarring that component to get it to "kick in". It's only about $15.00, so you may as well grab one.

Yea the starter came with a new solenoid.

 

[MajesticMoose]

try cleaning the terminals. It's a long shot but it can't hurt doing it...

 

[d33pt]

i would be willing to bet that it's the battery terminals and/or cables.. try cleaning or replacing them... both the ground and power cables, very cheap fix and it can't hurt anything

 

[Ornery]

Willoughbyva and probably had it right from the start. Jiggle the key in the ignition when you try to start it. Zenmervolt could still be right about the transmission switch. If you twist the key to the start position and measure 12V going into that switch, but not out, there's your problem. That switch would be easy to check, because there's only two wires involved. You'll need a schematic to track down the starter wire in the ignition switch. A page from our Helm's manual shows a diagram like this.

 

[Bignate603]

Can you check to see if the juice is even getting to the starter? I had a wire short out on me once so the starter didn't get squat. No click, no nothing.

 

[Ornery]

So? What did ya come up with? I notice you took the time to post this little gem earlier:

Originally posted by: Conflict

Originally posted by: AT

Originally posted by: Lithium381
how about some pics of your girlfriend now?

Yup, title has words "girlfriend" & "pics". Did I come here for nothing?

What he said.

Not to mention logging in at 7:31 PM, too. :disgust:

 

[Conflict]

Originally posted by: Ornery
So? What did ya come up with? I notice you took the time to post this little gem earlier:

Originally posted by: Conflict

Originally posted by: AT

Originally posted by: Lithium381
how about some pics of your girlfriend now?

Yup, title has words "girlfriend" & "pics". Did I come here for nothing?

What he said.

Not to mention logging in at 7:31 PM, too. :disgust:

Huh what? Anways, thanks for all the advice, but I don't have anything to test it with, we borrowed a friends battery tester before. Anyways it happened again, and I tried taking a metal pole and hitting the starter and it didn't work. 10min later the car started.

 

[Ornery]

Everyone should invest in a Volt Ohm Meter. Buy one of those and a good manual for your car. They'll pay for themselves the first time you use them!

Are you currently driving the car like this or what?

 

[Conflict]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Everyone should invest in a Volt Ohm Meter. Buy one of those and a good manual for your car. They'll pay for themselves the first time you use them!

Are you currently driving the car like this or what?

Ya, it only happens like once a week.

 

[Tarfin]

Turn the key to the on position, the dash lights should come on. Observe the dash lights while you turn the key to start. The dash lights should dim during the time the key is in start. Post back your observations and it'll speak volumes about where the problem is.

 

[Conflict]

Originally posted by: Tarfin
Turn the key to the on position, the dash lights should come on. Observe the dash lights while you turn the key to start. The dash lights should dim during the time the key is in start. Post back your observations and it'll speak volumes about where the problem is.

I dont exactly remeber, but I saw like, TEMP, LOW FUEL, AMP. Temp, maybe cause it's happened on hot days but then, it happend at 10pm when the car was parked for a couple hours. Low Fuel, my gas tank is never less than half full. Amp, we tested it all and it seems to be in order, but who knows?

 

[Ornery]

Tarfin wants to know whether those lights dim when it doesn't start. Keep a log of what the dash lights do, whenever you go to start it.