Starter or just relay?

[sweetjumper32]

Okay. When I turn the key on my Eclipse, sometimes all I get is a clicking noise coming from somewhere in the dash. The shop my car is at is telling me it's the starter. But the guy who installed my stereo at circuit city said he thinks it's a bad relay. If the relay were good, and the starter was bad, wouldn't the car still try to turn over? I've changed a bad starter before, and the car would try to turn over, but seldom started. So, is it the starter or just relay?

 

[ben90tsi]

the clicking noise behing your dash could be 2 things, 1 your ECU turning on/off, or the MPI relay, those are the only 2 things behind your dash that would click i believe...

 

[luv2rallye]

The starter relay on a 2g is behind the dash also or a theft alarm starter relay (if you have that). Your problem most likely is the relay, starter, or a weak battery. A weak battery will cause relays havoc. You can check the starter by jumpering it's starting solenoid to +12v to see if it will engage (this also tests your battery at the same time) although it is hard to get at.

 

[Eclipsemblue]

ok first off i just have to say anybody workin at circuit city is a bunch of ####in morons who cant even install a head unit correctly so why take there advice on mechanical questions, i just replaced my starter today cause it was on the verge of going, its a hard sound to explain, but if your starter is going or is shot, it will make and spinning sound in the engine the car may turn on once and awhile if the starter is not completly shot. If you are having a starter problem than look out for some more problems if u keep continuing to start your car on a bad starter ur gonna #### up your fly wheel inside ur trans, than your gonna have to drop the trans down and that aint fun. you will not get a ecu check engine for your starter not working correctly so best bet is to take it to a shop or buy a starter install it, see if the car starts fine. If it doesnt return the starter and get ur cash back. takes about 20min to install a new starter, its cake.

 

[sweetjumper32]

Thanks man. The tranny problem is what got me. I just blew my tranny last week . Too bad I didn't get to this first. Do you have to drop the tranny to install the starter? If not, I'll probably get to the starter next week.

 

[luv2rallye]

Drop the tranny to install the starter? Oh come now - even our DSM's aren't that bad. No you don't.

 

[sweetjumper32]

Alright. I wondered that cuz my mechanic told me it would save on a ton of labor since the tranny is already out. I didn't figure it had to be dropped, but that statement made me wonder.

 

[luv2rallye]

Well if the tranny is already out he's right - it will definately be easier (and slightly cheaper) to put it on the tranny first before installing the tranny. I didn't realize you had the tranny out and he is going to put it in. When I'm doing the tranny at home, I put it on after just because the starter is heavy and the tranny is way heavy enough already (and I don't have fancy tranny jacks).