Problem with starting, sometimes starts sometimes not, very strange help!!

[Jagyr_97gsx]

My car decides to not start at various times. I took it to Advance Auto and the battery and alternator are good. The first time it happened, it tried to crank then died. I can hear the fuel pump is working, but the starter makes no noise. If I disconnect the positive and negative cables for a few minutes, the car will crank fine. At least once anyway. I figure it's the starter or a random electrical problem. I referenced the no start guide in the tech section, but I didn't understand all of it. Any ideas?

 

[andymoraitis]

Jared,

That was kinda scary for a bit eh? I was praying she'd fire up the whole time. If you notice when it occured, it happened (the second time) after a bit of cranking to run a compression test. I'd say that either the starter is on it's way out or there's a loose wire down there. What I can't explain is why pulling the battery terminals seems to solve it.

I'd pull that starter and have it tested or at least check to make sure that all of the leads running to it are tight.

Aside of that I'm glad you came by so we could do your installs.

Later!

Andy

 

[Jagyr_97gsx]

The motor is running great too. Wish I could enjoy not having anything wrong with it for a while. Oh well. heh

 

[andymoraitis]

The motor is running great too. Wish I could enjoy not having anything wrong with it for a while. Oh well. heh

Problems are just a DSM's way of letting you know it wants attention.

Keep me posted on what you find out.

 

[wret]

My car decides to not start at various times. I took it to Advance Auto and the battery and alternator are good. The first time it happened, it tried to crank then died. I can hear the fuel pump is working, but the starter makes no noise. If I disconnect the positive and negative cables for a few minutes, the car will crank fine. At least once anyway. I figure it's the starter or a random electrical problem. I referenced the no start guide in the tech section, but I didn't understand all of it. Any ideas?

Most starter problems are, unsurprisingly, due to the starter. You could spend several hours troubleshooting the relays and switches, or you could unbolt the starter and take it to the parts store for a bench test. Odds are the starter will test bad and a new one will fix the problem If it tests okay, at least you have eliminated something on your troubleshooting list.

 

[Soup Can]

ok need a little more info...

Battery Qs:
so the issue is starting, but once its running its fine correct? Have you tried startin the car with a jump? Did they test the battery on the car or in the store?

Starter Qs;
does the starter click when you turn the key or do nothing? Next time it happens tap the starter with a hammer(gently!), then try to start it again. 95% of starter failures are due to stuck/broken bendix springs(the hammer tap is for this)...hehe however on the flip side 90% of starting system failures(when the battery is good) are due to stuck solenoids...

Im more than likely going to suggest you pull your starter and take it in to be bench tested and inspected...if you go to a good autozone or discount with an ase guy on duty he can tell you for sure if its yoru solenoid or starter in about 15 minutes...

 

[1gcrazy]

Bench testing the starter is a good idea.

If I remember correctly on most muscle cars i've worked on, the starter will run directly to the battery via ground wire. I've never had any experiance changing a starter on T/E/L but my first thought would be that maybe that ground wire is loose.
That would explain taking off the terminals for a moment. It probably just wiggles the wire back into a full circuit.
Try making sure all the wires to and from the starter are TIGHT. Thats the FIRST thing you need to do.

 

[Jagyr_97gsx]

Alright thanks, I have a different starter coming I bought from the classifieds here cheap, so I'll check out the wiring at the same time. I thought it sounded like a ground too, it's like a phantom problem. It turned over today just fine at least three times. The car has almost 140,000 miles on it. (Motor has 20,000). If it happenes again before I have a chance to check it out, I'll just try moving the wires around and see if it starts. I'd tap it with a hammer, but it's under the intake manifold.

We tried push starting it the other day and it wouldn't start. We shouldn't need to go THAT fast should we?

Oh- and the battery is a Optima red top bought last year, tested in the car using Advance Auto's tester. The battery and alternator checked out fine.

 

[Phil97GST]

well i have the same problem, i have a new starter and at times it won't start, so i keep trying to start then it'll finally work like after a couple of minutes. and yes i tired buying another starter but with the same problem. so what do i do??

 

[wret]

Could be your ignition switch.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Most starter problems are, unsurprisingly, due to the starter. You could spend several hours troubleshooting the relays and switches, or you could unbolt the starter and take it to the parts store for a bench test. Odds are the starter will test bad and a new one will fix the problem If it tests okay, at least you have eliminated something on your troubleshooting list.

I wasted so many weeks trying everything but the starter when I had my problems. Gave up, replaced the starter and it fixed everything. If you have to constantly turn the key and hear the click, but it won't crank, but keep trying and it eventually starts right up, it's the starter. The little metal brush (?) inside that spins around fails to make contact and will progressively worsen until it won't start at all. If it's doing that, it's the starter.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

its also a good idea to get the battery tested. cold temps usaully put more of a load on the batteries, or the battery could have a good voltage but a low cold crank amperage. also a possibility

 

[bmxfelon420]

i know with my friend's car, when it did that we noticed that the ground terminal was 3/4 of the way off. We cleaned it up with a wire brush, put it back on and bolted it back down and it started every time after that. So if it isnt the starter, than probably a continuity issue somewhere between the starter and battery.