ok so yesterday morning i bring my car the the shop, the same shop ive been going to since i had this car. i get my 2 front oxygen sensors replaced and my engine washed cause it really needed it.. so everything goes smooth, i pay them,, drive around town and run some errands for the majority of the day.. Fine no problems yet. ok so i go home take a nap and let the car sit there for a few hours

Now its around 1 in the morning and i decide i want to go see some friends. i open my front door, hit the auto start,, my foglights turn on then cut off (this is normal - they turn back on once the car starts running) but then they dont turn back on and the car didnt start. so im like what the hell. i get in the car and turn the key, i have lights, radio, and everything else is working fine. but when i try to start the car the engine doesnt even turn. i can hear the relay going(i might be wrong but its that little buzzing noise u hear above the fuse panel right before the engine turns) i figure it might be my alarm. so i switch to valet mode andf still the same problem. i really dont have any other options but to go back to the mechanic tomorrow..

but since i have a full day before that happens, is there anything that i can do or check to see what can be causing the engine not to turn..

 

Sounds like your starter went bad.

 

ok just came from outside. i now know that it is definetly my started. we had to tap the starter a few times to get the car to start... question is, would the engine wash have anything to do with the starte going bad or is this just coincidence... ive never had a problem starting the car before.. also my neighbor who is pretty knowledgeable about cars told me i can just pick up a used started and swap out the brush and that should fix it.. is that right? if not how much should a starter run me?

 

do you get a clicking at all? you can try regreasing it, but it might be too late already,

www.motorvate.ca check out the starter regreasing, i got a starter yesterday for $85 from a rebuild shop.

 

i didnt really get a ticking. it sounded more like a slight buzzing.. a few weeks back i do remember hearing a ticking when i started the car.

 

that happens with starters sometimes. i believe it is the solenoid sticking. dont know why, only seen it happen on my dads 83 tercel and its done it with the last 3 starters i think. i dunno, we're puttin a new engine in it and checking everything out, so we probably wont know exactly waht caused it. only good thing is we got the satrtre from autozone or pep boys so lifetime warranty.

 

take it all apart, check brushes and armature, if there is a lot of dust inside, your starter DONE, regrease won't help. If you have plenty of time you can order brushes and armature on-line (only) and fix it. Cause all other mechanisms deff fine.
Had this problems 3 weeks ago, just bought new one, cuz was bussy: school, work and stuff...

 

i owulndt waste time opening it up, take it out, find out if its the solenoid or the rest of the unit by yanking it and taking it to the store. i think if it sthe solenoid you can actually buy that separately, if not , just buy the entire unit. also check your battery, sometimes we overlook these things, but they are indeed the cause of the problem.


i was asking previously whether it was ticking when you cranked, did it crank, or does it click a few times. if you hear nothing it could be the solenoid, you can problaby pull it out youreslf and give it direct battery and give it a ground and see if the starter engages. also check fuses just in case because you said you washed it and it mightve eventually dripped onto something as the day passed.

 

ya i checked fuses and battery everything seems fine. i get full radio power, high beams, etc.. my motor never cranked at all. i just turned the key and that was it, no crank,, just like if i tried to start the car in reverse or something... its an auto.. it didnt crank at all until i tapped the starter... then it turned over. my neighbor tested the starter with a test light and it lit up so then we tapped it an it worked.. i dont have time to take it apart.... im just gonna buy a reman.. one.. if anyone could point me to a write up on how to change it, it would be appreciated as i just spent close to 200 hundred getting my oxygen sensors changed and would rather not give these guys back more money for labor expenses.... if not any info would be accepted

 

would the engine wash have anything to do with the starter going bad or is this just coincidence... ive never had a problem starting the car before

 

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516


thers a writeup of regreasing, you can follow everything prior to that to remove the starter. remove the entire intake assembly including the air scoop only thing you dont need to remove it the lower airbox,take a ratchet, i think maybe its 13mm and remove the cable from the battery tot eh starter. one bolt thats 17mm or 16mm, and the other is either 15 or 14mm, 17mm is on the right hand, and the 15 or so is on the left hand side of the starter, remove both bolts. the one on the right hand is a real long one, and the bolt on the left is relatively short. remove both, disconnect te harness and the starter should slide right out. installatoin if the reverse. make sure you disconnect the battery terminals prior to starting.

 

ok **** it. i have no other option than to bring it to the shop.. 225 parts and labor lifetime warranty.. i dont have time and its really getting cold in NY

 

price sounds good if you cant get one from a rebuilding shop, if you can then it would be 20 minutes of your time and $85 for the part. took me 20 minutes or so to replace mine.