AxisKill

Basically im 99% sure my starter has died.. before when i would start up, it would stutter and then go just fine .. the problem has been around for about a week but being that ive been working my *** off all week i didn't get a chance to have it taken care of.

I remember there was a starter thread a day or two ago.. point is i just got out of a restuarant, when to start the car and nothing.. no stuttering.. no crank what-so-ever.. i popped up the hood and had him try and start it.. the throttle raises a bit.. and you hear a little effort being made, but nothing happens.

my question is, is there any quick fix to this? or anything to get the car temporarily running?

because my only choices now are get a towing truck which will cost a bit and have it delevered to my mechanic to have it running by tommorow morning (which will cost a bit as well)

or leave the car where it's currently at (about 2 miles from my house) but then it'll likely be stripped by tommorow morning (i rather pay up than have that..)

- any quick tips would be appreciated.

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

Give the starter a couple of whacks and try to start the car.

Did you try to jump the car? Do the lights work (i.e. are you sure the battery hasn't died)?

AxisKill

ye i tried smacking the starter a little bit (didn't want to hit it too hard)

and yes im sure the battery is fine, lights are fine not dim at all, and i even sat in my car listening to my headunit for quite some time before my ride arrived..

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

Don't be scared to give the starter a few knocks..

So right now the car doesn't turn over at all?

AxisKill

absolutely zip ... you just see the throttle wires lift up a bit which is a sign of life.. and you hear a buzzing sound from starter..

AxisKill

well alright im off to the spot to give my starter a few more knocks.. thanks for the quick replies / efforts njmodi.. i'd send you a tip but i can't figure out how to put that on my receipt.. according to my card company they're going to reimburse me up to 240$ for not being able to satisfy my towing needs...

can someone say free new starter?

meh maybe not... i got qouted at 75$ for hookup and 7.50$ per mile towed..meh

StarFireMax

YAY FIRST POST

Anyway, the SAME EXACT THING happened to me two days ago. My car hasn't been starting smoothly. One day it would start nicely, the next, it would crank and stutter for a good 3-seconds, and had to give it some gas to let it idle properly.

Moving along

Earlier that day, I get in my car, and it won't start. The battery was almost dead, so I just got it jumped, and got a new battery within an hour. I tried starting my car again, and it wouldn't work properly, but for some dumb reason I thought it was an electrical problem, so I thought it was my alternator or something. I left for the gym later that day.

After the gym, I get back to my car, and it wouldn't start. Not a peep. I heard dust mites crawling on my dashboard, that's how freakin quiet it was. I was pretty scared. Luckily my gym buddy has AAA and they have this weird rule that if you're a member in a non-members car, the non-member can get AAA service too. So, I had my car towed to my mechanic for free, and the next day my mechanic said the culprit was my starter. Paid $400 for the job, don't know if I got jipped or anything, but I was just so happy to have my car start up (and REALLY smoothly) again.

Anyway, good luck to you.

quinby1

My 95 Maxima's starter died right after the warranty expired with less than 50K miles on it. Wrote to the area rep and got a letter back saying there's nothing they can do for me. Local dealership installed a new one for me for $500. I was not at all happy.

AxisKill

yea i too am a member, but the f*ckers couldn't find anyone to tow my car, so they said they'd pay up to 240$ to get it taken care of.. so i had my 85$ bill turned into a 190$ bill ... now gotta wait till morning to hear the news.. .. i was planning a day off anyway

Whitemax

Rebuilt starter at pep boys with lifetime warranty=$150 time to install the new one=10 minutes total. 2 bolts and a nut for the power cable. easiest job there is. Takes longer to change the oil than to swap out the starter.....

JwaxMax99

iTrader: (14)

Woo, 500 bucks that hurt.....DIY sure is nice...get some tools and learn.
That's the most $ for starter job I have heard of.

AxisKill

to late... 200$ for part at mechanic and 50$ labor.

i wouldn't mind doing it myself, but i have no ride to get the starter until way later tonight, and that would mean i would have the car towed to my house for the time being...

this way the car is out of order for a few hours and i'll have her back soon...

i hate this nonsense.. keeps setting my modding further and further back

Gotrice4

The dying starter thread was mine. Strange how everything I am reading here is basically what I went through. Just died at the most inconvenient time.

$90 for a new battery, $75 for hookup and $2 a mile for a tow, and $362 for the starter and labor. It was an expensive inconvenience. Can't wait for the credit card bill next month.

tavarish

iTrader: (27)

i could have sold you a starter for 25 bucks and installed it for free.

shasmax

testing testing testing

AxisKill

yea gotrice4 it truly was a crappy experience :-/

and tavarish where the f*ck were you between 9:30pm and 12:30am last night!?!

its over now.. total = 240$ + 190 towing ... but im getting towing fees paid back..

Hoochiecoochie

Buy a Plus membership to your local AAA. Probably a 72 hour wait B4 you can use it though. Just so people don't buy it, after the breakdown. You can usually get a basic membership for less and offers typically 5 miles of free towing to a place of your choice. IF you go over the 5 miles, typical mileage charge is about $3.50 (Chicago rate). You can usually use that benefit right away. I realize this idea is late but plan for the future. It's probably your starter. PepBoys or Auto Zone for the starter. Approximately 1 hour to change.