I parked the car, turned off the engine.

5 minutes later, I tried to cut the car on, and the engine won't turn over. Electrical systems all work fine.

I'll turn the key in for the ignition, everything seems normal, but when it comes time for the engine to turn over, it sounds like a whining toddler that just got pimp slapped.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be the problem?



oh yeah, I'm cartarded, so flame away. I'm happy to give any details that I probably left out.

9/22/2007 6:08:25 PM

did you try giving it gas when you would turn it?

9/22/2007 6:12:02 PM

Starter

9/22/2007 6:15:54 PM

so if i'm reading right, it does make some sort of noise when you try to start it?

have you noticed it getting weaker starting at all recently?

when you say everything works fine, does that include higher draw things like the headlights? are all the interior lights just as bright as they normally are, etc.?

9/22/2007 6:15:58 PM

yeah, it does make a noise when I try to start it.

I can't say that it's gotten weaker lately when starting. But over the past couple of days, it's been taking about half a second longer than normal.


signals, headlights, lights, stereo, A/C all working normally.

my guess was something is wrong with the started. But as I mentioned before, I'm semi-retarded when it comes to what's under my hood.

9/22/2007 6:18:57 PM

yeah, this is one of those things that's pretty hard to diagnose over the internet.

it's sounds like your battery is okay though, in which case i would point to one of two things:

1.) corroded/loose connection somewhere on the battery or starter

2.) bad starter

i still wouldn't completely rule out the battery/alternator. it could be a bad cell that's only showing when a high load is put to the battery (starter). if you can, try to jump start it from another vehicle. if it still doesn't start, then it's almost certain to be one of the two things above.

a couple of things you can try that could prove if it's the starter or not:

- bump the key rapidly a few times between the on and start positions, then try to normally start it. sometimes it take doing this sequence several times.

- if you think you can locate the starter yourself, whack it with something. whatever you can get at it with, hammer, long screwdriver, broom handle, etc.

if it starts after doing one of those two things, there's your problem.

take a look at your cables also that connect to the battery for corrosion or being physically loose.



[Edited on September 22, 2007 at 6:31 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2007 6:27:36 PM

well, bumping the key didn't seem to work.
not sure how to get to the starter : /

couldn't find any loose connections leading to the battery either.

I'm thinking (hoping) it's the starter. relatively cheap, right?

[Edited on September 22, 2007 at 6:44 PM. Reason : oh, and thanks]

9/22/2007 6:43:56 PM

Follow the positive (red) battery cable to the starter.

9/22/2007 6:45:57 PM

^^i would hope it's something else. a remanufactured starter from a parts store is going to be at least $100-150, double that for an all new one. you could probably have the one that's on there rebuilt at a local starter/alternator shop a little cheaper.

see if it'll start with a jump. that'll go a long way in ruling out some things.

[Edited on September 22, 2007 at 6:53 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2007 6:51:58 PM

I see

yeah, I'll try jumping it. That'll have to wait until I can call a friend over here though. I'm not sure where my handy dandy jumper kit ran off to.

9/22/2007 6:54:28 PM

still not turnin?

9/23/2007 12:36:03 PM

battery issues

9/24/2007 9:14:43 PM