mszilves

Hi all,

I have an intermittent problem with starting the car. Sometimes I have to turn the key up to 10 times to start the car, and it just makes a clicking sound, but won't start. And then it just starts. I have a new starter that is only a month or so old. Has anyone had similar problems with the 3rd gens, or knows how to fix it?

Hectic

iTrader: (20)

is it a grinding or click? if it's a quiet click, check your battery connections and/or charge it. if it's grinding really loud when you try and start it, you've got something funky going on with the starter.

mszilves

Yeah, it's just a quiet click, there's no grinding. I think it's probably wiring, but anyone know the best place to start?

jewsonlot

Make sure the cable conections are tight on the starter motor and your positive and earthare tight on the battery, battery is easiest to get too so start there. Good luck

mszilves

Thanks, I checked those. I looked at the wiring diagrams, and it looks like the clutch switch is also part of this circuit. Since mine doesn't seem to be working (ie. I can start the car in gear and it will jerk), I wonder if this could be it.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

not likely, if it cranks then all the "safety" switchs are allowing it to.

92 Max

That click is the solenoid closing. That means that power is getting to the starter. Thus everything upstream should be O.K., unless it's just not getting enough juice (~12V, tired battery?). Turn on the headlites and try to crank the engine. If the headlites dim considerably then the battery should be the lead suspect.
If the battery is good and the solenoid (lump on top of starter) clicks with authority, then the starter itself is headed for silicon heaven (pretty much Mexico, I think, where they're rebuilt).

mszilves

Great, thanks everyone for the help. So since there is a click, then there is definitely power going to the solenoid, right? Then I will check the actual starter cable from the battery, and if it's not that, then likely it's the starter itself. But like I said, the starter is only a month or so old, so I really don't think that's the problem. I've never seen a new/rebuilt starter have these kinds of problems, so that's why I'm thinking it's other electrical.

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

I have seen several reman starters crap out within months of installation..Happened a few times on a few of my cars...

If you can't find any problems with the wiring then take the starter back to where you got it,and have them test it..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

months, try DOA

avmaldo

Check for corrosion/build up on your terminals and cables.
If there is any build up then your cables/terminal will have high resistance and low conductivity which won't provide sufficient "juice" to start up.

slickblack94

iTrader: (5)

My car did the same thing. Starter was 8 months old I thought it was everything but the starter.Ended up being , the starter. I would have to turn
the key 3,4,5,6,7 times before it would turn over.

vansskaterfreek

iTrader: (14)

tap the starter with a wrench or a hammer... not hard, just lightly and try to start it..... it might help.. if it starts after 1`-2 tries, it is most likely a connection or the starter

ColombianMax

iTrader: (7)

I had that same problem on my Lumina APV (POS)...crappiest vehicle ever owned. The car would click and click like there was no tomorrow. It would start normally when jumped, it wasnt the alternator or battery so I'm assuming it was the starter, never did find out cuz they stole it and we just left it at the pound when it was found. Just go to a Parts store and have em check it with there onboard testing tool so you dont have to remove the starter.

Spacend

When I left my lights on, it did the same thing, replace battery, and run electrical test for shorts.

Mexi-Spice

I had the exact same click noise and problem, and it magically fixed itself. It was going in for 2 months and it hasnt happend in 4 months. The thing with olds cars is sometimes if you wait long enough the problems go away!

alextothestars

sounds like the starter to me. same thing happened on my old dodge dynasty. went from doing it every once in a blue moon to not starting up at all. very easy fix.

KEhrhardt

Probably the battery. How old is it? As others have said, clean the connections. Pour hot tap water on the terminals to eliminate any corrosion and then remove the connectors and clean them up with some light emery cloth or med grit sandpaper. Also clean up the battery posts as well. Reattach and try again. When the car is running, check across the battery terminals with a voltmeter to make sure that the alternator is charging the battery. You should see around 13.5V or more when the car is running. Good Luck.

colinod

I had the same problem today, for some reason the battery decided to go out. The car made the sound an air compressor makes, then i went to go get a jump then it worked.